The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually given to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.
Screening Guidelines
People who are at high risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) should have regular testing. Early diagnosis and care can delay problems later on. Those at high risk for CKD are people who:
- Have diabetes
- Are aged 65 years and older
-
Have
high blood pressure
- Have a family history of CKD
- Have problems with the urinary system, including other kidney related diseases
Screening Tests
Tests are done to see how well your kidneys are working. Screening may include:
- Blood tests—To detect how well the kidneys are filtering wastes from the blood. High amounts of wastes in the bloodstream may point to a problem.
-
Urine tests to:
- Look for proteins that should be filtered out and returned to the bloodstream
- Compare protein levels with one another
- Detect minerals such as calcium or potassium
- Check the acid level of the urine
Your doctor will work with you on how often you need to be screened.
