Can my healthcare provider know if my kidneys are working properly by looking at how much creatinine is in my blood?
No. Looking at how much creatinine is in your blood is not the best way to check your kidney health.That’s because the level of creatinine in your blood is affected by your age, race, gender, and body size. (In other words, what’s considered “normal” depends on these factors.)The best way to know if your kidneys are working properly is by looking at your glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
GFR is a routine lab that can be found on your blood work report.GFR is a calculation that includes your creatinine, along with your age, gender, race, and weight.Your GFR number will help your healthcare provider know if you have kidney disease.You may have kidney disease if your GFR number is:
- Below 60 for three months
- Above 60 with signs of kidney damage (having protein in the urine is a sign of kidney damage)
