Screening Guidelines

People who are at high risk for ESRD should have regular testing. Early diagnosis and care can delay problems later. High risk includes those who:

• Are aged 60 years and older
• Have high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease
• Have other kidney problems such as polycystic kidney disease
• Have a family history of kidney disease
• Take medicines that harm the kidneys
• Have other health problems that harm the kidneys such as systemic lupus erythematosus
• Are of Black, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American descent

Screening Tests

Tests are done to see how well your kidneys are working. Screening includes:

• Blood tests—Looks for wastes that should be filtered out of the blood. High amounts may point to a problem.
• Urine tests to check for levels of certain minerals or proteins, or acid.

Your doctor will let you know how often you should be tested.