What to Expect When Taking an EFGR Test for Kidney Health

An eGFR test is a blood test that measures how well your kidneys filter the blood. It is usually part of a routine lab panel.

Doctors can use this test to see if you are developing kidney disease or getting worse. It also helps them monitor your condition and develop a treatment plan.

What to Expect

The EGFR blood test is one of several tests doctors use to check your kidney function. This test can help your doctor decide how to treat your kidney disease and how to protect your kidneys from further damage.

eGFR measures the rate at which your kidneys at filtering a waste product in your blood called creatinine. It uses information about your age, sex, and ethnic group to calculate how efficiently your kidneys work.

A healthy kidney should be able to filter 90ml/min of creatinine in a minute, while a low eGFR means your kidneys aren’t doing as well. This can be a sign of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a common cause of end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

An eGFR can be useful for screening people at risk of developing kidney problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease. It can also be used to screen people who plan to donate a kidney or have treatment that may affect their kidneys.

Your eGFR can be influenced by factors such as how well your kidneys are functioning, how much fluid you drink, and the amount of protein that gets into your urine. The test results can also be used to determine your kidney disease stage.

Preparation

An eGFR test is a routine procedure that can help your doctor check for kidney problems. It may also be done to monitor your condition over time and to determine the stage of kidney disease, or CKD.

An eGFR test is often part of a series of renal function tests (RFTs). They help your healthcare professional know if you have kidney disease and what treatment you need.

The kidneys filter waste, extra water, and other substances from the blood and regulate your body’s fluid balance and electrolytes. They do this through tiny filters known as glomeruli.

When your kidneys work normally, they filter about 100 mL of blood per minute. If you have kidney disease, the filtering process could be more effective. This can lead to an enlarged kidney, resulting in high blood pressure, swelling, and other symptoms.

For this reason, it’s important to have your eGFR regularly tested, as low levels can lead to kidney failure. Your doctor can use this information to decide whether you need a kidney transplant or other treatments for your condition.

Procedure

The eGFR test measures your kidney health and detects chronic kidney disease (CKD). About 37 million people in the US have CKD, but many are unaware they have it.

CKD is a chronic disease that slowly damages the kidneys. Treatment at earlier stages often prevents or delays kidney failure. It’s important to check your eGFR regularly so your doctor can diagnose and treat any problems early on before they become severe.

Your doctor may order an eGFR test if you have risk factors for kidney diseases, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, a family history of kidney problems, or a condition that causes a buildup of waste products in the body, such as glomerulonephritis. These risks are usually treated with lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, losing weight (if needed), and taking medications to control your high blood pressure or diabetes.

You can get an eGFR test without having to go to a hospital. Your doctor will draw blood from your arm and send it to a laboratory for testing. You’ll also need to drink a glass of water before the test and drink plenty of fluids afterward to help the test work properly.

The test results will show your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which is the best way to measure your kidney function. It is based on your serum creatinine level and other personal factors, such as age, sex and ethnicity.

Results

Your kidneys filter out toxins (waste) in your blood, helping keep you healthy. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measures how well these glomeruli work, which helps your healthcare provider find problems with your kidneys, such as chronic kidney disease or high blood pressure.

Your eGFR value is calculated using an equation that considers your age, sex, and body type, along with a certain amount of creatinine in your blood sample. The test can be taken at a doctor’s office or at home.

An eGFR is important for diagnosing chronic kidney disease and monitoring CKD progression. For this reason, it is recommended that you get tested at least once a year for those at risk of developing CKD due to obesity, diabetes, or a family history of kidney failure.

It is also very important to have a yearly eGFR test for those who already have CKD, as it will help monitor your response to treatment. You can also discuss getting regular eGFR testing with your nephrologist, who will be able to provide you with additional information on how your treatment is working and monitor any deterioration in your kidney health over time.

eGFR is a very sensitive indicator of kidney function, meaning it will only go above normal once more than 50% of your kidney function is gone. It is, therefore, very useful to diagnose kidney disease early before the damage gets worse and requires a more advanced test such as a kidney biopsy or surgery.

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