Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.
You may have these tests:
Blood Tests
Blood tests measure the amount of wastes, proteins, or other products found in the bloodstream. The numbers tell how well your kidneys are working.
Tests may include:
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine
—Waste products that kidneys remove from the blood. The numbers measure the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR is a measurement of how well the kidneys are filtering wastes.
- Complete blood count
(CBC)—Measures the numbers of blood products to see if they’re in a normal range. For example, not enough red blood cells may point to
anemia.
- Other blood products such as minerals, hormones, or proteins.
Urine Tests
The kidneys filter blood and make urine. The proteins are supposed to return to the bloodstream. With chronic kidney disease (CKD), the protein stays in the urine. There are many proteins. One called albumin appears in the urine of people who have CKD. This CKD is caused by
high blood pressure
or diabetes.
Tests may include:
- 24 hour urine protein—the amount of protein made over 24 hours
- Dipstick for urine protein—the amount of protein in a single sample taken first thing in the morning
-
Microalbumin screening in people who have
type 1
or
type 2
diabetes
24 hour urine albumin—the amount of this protein made over 24 hours
- Dipstick for urine albumin—the amount of this protein in a single sample
- Protein to creatinine ratio—amount of protein to the amount of creatinine in a sample
- Albumin to creatinine ratio—amount of albumin to creatinine in a sample
- Protein-to-creatinine ratio—amount of protein to the amount of creatinine in a sample
- Albumin-to-creatinine ratio—amount of albumin to creatinine in a sample
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate
Your doctor can figure out the GFR based on your:
- Gender
- Age
- Body size
- Blood creatinine level
CKD stages are based on the GFR:
| Stage | GFR |
| 1 | Over 90 mL/min (normal) |
| 2 | 60 to 89 mL/min (mild decrease) |
| 3 | 30 to 59 mL/min (moderate decrease) |
| 4 | 15 to 29 mL/min (severe decrease) |
| 5 | under 15 mL/min (kidney failure or end-stage renal disease) |
Imaging Tests
An ultrasound or
CT scan
can help your doctor look for problems in the urinary system. They may reveal a kidney stone, tumor, or other problem that’s causing CKD.
Kidney Biopsy
During a
kidney biopsy, a small piece of tissue is removed. It’s examined under a microscope. The biopsy can tell how much kidney damage there is. It also may also help with finding a cause.
