Creatinine test is a normal test to indicate the way your kidneys function. It's a measurement of how much creatinine, a waste product of muscle breakdown, is in your blood and occasionally in your urine. As kidneys filter out creatinine, abnormal results can reflect kidney issues. It is performed as a part of kidney comprehensive tests and is commonly performed along with eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) and blood creatinine and creatinine clearance. Regardless of being performed as a part of follow-up on kidney disease already diagnosed or follow-up routinely, the levels of creatinine are most important to health.

What is a Creatinine Test?

A creatinine test is a measurement of the amount of creatinine in your blood (serum creatinine test) or urine. Creatinine is a waste product of normal muscle breakdown. Healthy, functioning kidneys filter creatinine out of the blood into the urine. As kidney function gets worse, creatinine builds up in the body.

Two creatinine tests are widely used:

  • Serum Creatinine Test (Blood): Measures the amount of creatinine in your blood.
  • Creatinine Clearance Test (Blood Urine): Examines your urine and blood creatinine to estimate eGFR, allowing us to determine how well your kidneys are clearing waste.
They are one of the Kidney Function tests (KFT).

Why is the Creatinine Test Done?

Doctors prescribe this Creatinine test for kidney disease or want to screen for chronic conditions. If you experience symptoms like weakness, puffy ankles, more frequent urination, or high blood pressure, a blood creatinine test can be prescribed.
Medical conditions to screen for in ordinary care:

  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
  • Urinary tract blockage
  • Lupus or other autoimmune disease
  • Monitoring medicine (some medicines harm kidney function)
It is also utilized as an early stage screening test for renal disease so that physicians can detect dysfunction prior to its advanced stage.

How to Prepare for a Creatinine Test?

Preparation for a serum creatinine test is minimal. You rarely have to fast unless specified by your physician. That said, there are a few general considerations you need to observe during Creatinine test preparation:

  • Avoid eating red meat or taking protein supplements 24 hours before the test, as this could temporarily raise creatinine levels.
  • Stay hydrated, but don’t overdo it. Too much or too little water can affect urine concentration in creatinine in urine tests.
  • Let your doctor know if you’re taking medications like diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or NSAIDs, which can impact kidney results.
  • Wear loose arm sleeves when they draw your blood so it will be easy for them to access your arm.
To have a creatinine clearance test, you will be taught how to take your own urine for 24 hours. Be sure to do this just right so you will get good results.

Creatinine Test Procedure

The procedure is different if you are taking a blood test, urine test, or both.

Serum Creatinine Test (Blood Test)

  • The doctor takes blood from a vein with a very thin needle, likely from your arm.
  • It takes only a minute or two and isn't very painful.
  • The sample is tested in the laboratory for serum creatinine in the lab.

Creatinine Clearance Test (Urine Collection)

  • You will be producing all of your urine during 24 hours in a special collection bottle.
  • At the same time, a sample of blood is obtained.
  • The test is then done in the laboratory by comparing urine creatinine and blood creatinine to determine how effectively your kidneys are removing waste.
Tests are painless and harmless and provide good information about your kidney function.


What to Expect After the Creatinine Test

Following the blood test, the sole side effect is slight bruising and pain at the point where the needle enters, but the side effects are temporary and go unnoticed. For the urine test, the worst part is to remember taking each sample exactly for 24 hours. Missing taking one solitary one ruins the test result.

No. You don't require follow-up after the test. You may resume your normal activities as early as possible. Your test result should be ready within a day or two. depending on the laboratory. If your interpretation of creatinine test result is not normal, your doctor might need to repeat tests or change your diet.

Interpretation of creatinine test results

Normal value of creatinine should be employed to read in assessing kidney function. Normal value of creatinine will be as follows:

  • Men: 0.7 – 1.3 mg/dL
  • Women: 0.6 – 1.1 mg/dL
  • Children: Lower values depending on age and muscle bulk

Why a High Creatinine

Abnormally High creatinine causes:

  • Kidney damage
  • Abnormal loss of water
  • Grossly excessive protein diet
  • Testicular damage
  • Certain drugs or infection
When it is substantially higher than normal, follow-up is indicated. Your physician will check your eGFR and repeat.

Low Creatinine Symptoms

Less commonly, Low creatinine symptoms are:
  • Malnutrition
  • Muscle wasting away
  • Liver disease
  • Pregnancy (since there's more fluid volume)
Mild abnormalities are not disease. It's the long-term trend of your results that matters.

Conditions Diagnosed with a Creatinine Test

Creatinine testing diagnoses and determines:

  • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
  • Acute kidney injury
  • Urinary tract obstruction
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Diabetic nephropathy
  • Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown releasing creatine)
Aside from eGFR and creatinine clearance, the test is also utilized to screen renal function at treatment or on drug change.

Creatinine Test Vs KFT Test

The Creatinine test is only a component of the whole kidney function test (KFT).
These are where they vary:

  • Creatinine Test: Utilize solely blood or urine creatinine.
  • KFT Test: Kit that has urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, electrolytes, and uric acid at times.
Although a test for creatinine will give specific information about the filtration of kidneys, a KFT will give general information about the general health of the kidneys and related systems. Both these tests are recommended by physicians to make a overall diagnosis.

Cost of Creatinine Test in Pakistan

Creatinine test cost in Pakistan is not very expensive, even though it's done at the best diagnostic centers. Here is how much it will cost you:

  • Serum Creatinine Test: PKR 500 to PKR 1,000
  • Creatinine Clearance (24-hour urine test): PKR 1,200 to PKR 2,500
The price of Normal creatinine range from place to place and lab to lab, and medical insurance or packages lower the out-of-pocket cost. Some clinics provide eGFR and complete Renal function test in combination at an affordable price.

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