What tests can be conducted to detect kidney disease?
Regular checkups with a physician are essential in identifying the onset of kidney disease. Your checkup should include: a test of protein levels in your urine and a blood test for creatinine. Healthy kidneys are able to filter protein out of the urine and keep it in your body. If your kidneys are damaged, then protein can leak into the urine and this could be an indicator of kidney disease. Creatinine is a waste product that comes from muscle activity and is removed from the blood by the kidneys. If your kidneys are damaged, then the levels of creatinine in the blood can raise to very high levels. The levels of creatinine in the blood can be used to calculate glomerular filtration rate, GFR. Other tests include: an ultrasound or CT scan and a kidney biopsy. The ultrasound or CT scan is used to obtain a picture of the kidneys and urinary tract to determine whether there is a kidney tumor or stone and if there are any physical problems with the kidneys and urinary tract. A kidney biopsy
