Patient Guide

Kidney Health Tests: Complete Guide

Q: Which tests show how well my kidneys work?

Creatinine and the calculated eGFR are the core measures of kidney function, while an urine albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) detects early kidney damage before function declines.

Q: What is eGFR and what's a normal value?

eGFR estimates how well the kidneys filter blood. Above 90 is generally normal, while values below 60 for more than three months indicate chronic kidney disease.

Q: Can kidney damage be present with normal blood tests?

Yes. Early kidney damage often shows first as protein (albumin) leaking into the urine, which is why the urine ACR test is important alongside blood tests, especially in diabetes and high blood pressure.

Chronic kidney disease often has no symptoms until kidneys are significantly damaged. These blood and urine tests catch problems early: when treatment works best.

Written by Suman Konda, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist · Editorial policy · Not medical advice

Last updated: 01 August 2026 · How we check our content

The complete kidney test panel

Test	Normal	What it checks
Serum Creatinine	Men: 0.74–1.35 mg/dL; Women: 0.59–1.04 mg/dL	Kidney filtering efficiency
eGFR	>90 mL/min	% of kidney function remaining
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)	7–20 mg/dL	Protein waste in blood
BUN:Creatinine Ratio	10:1 – 20:1	Dehydration vs kidney damage
Urine Routine	No protein, no RBC	Kidney leakage
Urine Microalbumin	<30 mg/g creatinine	Earliest sign of kidney damage
Serum Electrolytes	Na 136–145, K 3.5–5.0 mEq/L	Fluid and salt balance
Uric Acid	Men: 3.5–7.2 mg/dL; Women: 2.6–6.0 mg/dL	Gout and kidney stones risk

Who should get regular kidney tests?

Diabetics: diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide. Annual creatinine + urine microalbumin from diagnosis
Hypertensives: high blood pressure is the second leading cause. Annual KFT
People taking NSAIDs regularly: ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen all damage kidneys with prolonged use
People taking contrast dye for CT scans: contrast nephropathy risk
Anyone with recurrent kidney stones: 24-hour urine study + metabolic workup
Family history of kidney disease: polycystic kidney disease is hereditary

The most important early warning sign: urine microalbumin

Microalbuminuria: catch kidney damage years early

Normal kidneys do not let albumin (a large protein) escape into urine. The earliest sign of diabetic or hypertensive kidney damage is tiny amounts of albumin leaking through (microalbuminuria: 30–300 mg/g creatinine). This is detectable years before creatinine rises or eGFR drops. At the microalbuminuria stage, kidney damage is almost completely reversible with tight blood pressure and sugar control. Once creatinine rises significantly, damage is mostly irreversible, which is why early testing matters so much.

Questions to ask your doctor

What is my eGFR, and what does that mean for my kidney function percentage?
Should I test urine microalbumin given my diabetes/hypertension?
Which pain medications are safe for me to take?
Do I need a kidney ultrasound?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which tests show how well my kidneys work?