Lab Results for Life


Lab Tests for Chronic Kidney Disease

Some 20 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), and 20 million more face an increased risk of developing it.

  • CKD is one of the most destructive forms of kidney disease, resulting in kidney failure for many patients.

  • CKD complications can include high blood pressure, anemia, osteoporosis, and nerve and eye damage.

Laboratory tests help patients better manage CKD and its effects — even slow down or prevent further progression of the disease — through earlier diagnosis and treatment that is based on each patient's condition and stage of disease.1 Treatment may include changes in diet, adjustments in medications, treatment for related conditions, introduction of new medications, or surgery. Treatments for kidney failure are dialysis or transplant.

The tests used for diagnosing and treating CKD — and recommended by evidence-based physician practice guidelines — include the following:2, 3

  • Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen tests evaluate how well the kidneys remove waste from the blood.
  • Hemoglobin testing to identify and measure anemia
  • Urine total protein to find out if proteins are being released into the blood
  • Tests to measure calcium, phosphate, and other chemicals
  • Tests to evaluate other diseases that often accompany chronic kidney disease, including diabetes, osteoperosis, and cardiovascular disease.

1 "Overview of the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults," Post, TW, Rose, BD, in UpToDate, Rose, BD (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA, 2007.

2 The Lewin Group, "The Value of Diagnositcs Innovation, Adoption, and Diffusion into HealthCare," Jly 2005.

3 Lab Tests Online, at http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/kidney.html and http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/urine_protein/glance.html, accessed March 13, 2007.

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