Creatinine, a waste product, is removed from the blood by the kidneys and excreted through the urine. Abnormal creatinine levels point to a kidney issue.
A blood test called the creatinine test is used to assess the condition and performance of the kidneys. It helps measure how well your kidneys remove waste from your blood. This test is also frequently referred to as the serum creatinine test. In India, the creatinine test price ranges from Rs 65 to Rs 260.
What does the Creatinine test evaluate?
The creatinine level in the blood is evaluated during a creatinine blood test. When creatine, which is present in muscles, is broken down, creatinine is produced as a waste byproduct. The doctor can learn how well the kidneys function from the blood’s creatinine levels.
Nephrons, which are tiny blood-filtering organelles, are found in significant numbers in the kidney. These nephrons continuously filter blood through glomeruli, a relatively small and insignificant group of blood arteries. Waste materials, extra water, and other contaminants are removed from the blood through this. Toxins are held in the bladder before being released during urination. The primary ingredient in the chemicals that the kidneys typically eliminate from the body is creatinine. To measure the health of the kidneys, doctors keep an eye on the blood’s level of creatinine. A high creatinine level may indicate that your kidneys are unhealthy and not functioning correctly.
Generally, a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test, a basic metabolic panel (BMP), or a complete metabolic panel are performed in addition to the creatinine blood tests (CMP). These tests are conducted as part of normal physical examinations to help identify specific diseases and look for renal function issues.
What can one predict from their creatinine test?
During the blood test, you can face the following conditions:
- To check your arms for an easily accessible vein, you must sit comfortably on the chair. Your arm’s interior is located on the opposite side of the elbow.
- The phlebotomist or medical professional will use an alcohol wipe to clean and sanitize the area after finding the vein.
- They will insert a needle into your vein to take a blood sample. There can be a slight pinch.
- They will then collect the necessary amount of blood in a test tube once they have inserted the needle.
- Once they have enough blood for the test, they will withdraw the needle and apply a bandage or cotton to the area to stop any bleeding. The blood collection process is complete when a dressing has been placed over the punctured vein.
- It takes around five minutes to complete this process.
Who should undergo a creatinine test?
A creatinine test is frequently recommended when you show symptoms or overall health history indicates a higher risk of renal disease. If you experience any symptoms that a kidney-related underlying condition could bring, a creatinine test might be recommended as part of the diagnostic process.
If you have an elevated risk of kidney illness, your doctor may still advise a creatinine test to check for kidney issues even though you don’t have any symptoms. The following factors are associated with kidney diseases:
- Diabetes
- History of renal problems in the family
- Elevated blood pressure
You can undergo routine creatinine testing to check for potential side effects if you take any medicine that could affect kidney function. Suppose you had an abnormal kidney function test or had already been diagnosed with kidney disease. In that case, creatinine testing can also be performed to track the health of your kidneys. During routine medical exams, a creatinine test can be performed as a component of the primary or comprehensive metabolic panel. Some doctors would recommend these panels during regular patient care even though there may not be much data supporting the advantages of this type of testing in otherwise healthy patients.
What are the expected Creatinine Test results?
The creatinine test determines how much creatinine is present in your blood. When the muscle breaks down protein, creatinine is produced as a waste product. The typical creatinine test result ranges from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/dL. You might have a kidney or liver problem if your creatinine level is higher than 2.0 mg/dL.
What is the creatinine test price?
It is a cost-effective test; generally, the creatinine test price ranges between Rs. 65 and Rs. 260. However, health professionals most frequently use kidney function tests (KFT), which include testing for uric acid, urea, and creatinine. A KFT test costs between Rs. 200 and Rs. 1400.
Conclusion
Filtering and removing waste from our bodies is the responsibility of the kidneys. When creatine, a component of muscles, breaks down, the body produces creatinine as a waste product. The kidneys eliminate waste, including creatinine; the body eliminates these filtered waste items through the urine. A blood test for creatinine is performed to determine the amount of creatinine in the blood. The results of this test allow the doctor to assess how effectively your kidneys are working.
