Kidney Function Blood Tests

Kidney function blood tests help show how well the kidneys filter waste, regulate electrolytes, maintain acid-base balance, and support overall health. This category explains the most important kidney blood markers, including creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), cystatin C, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urea, and the BUN/creatinine ratio. Explore how renal function panels, BMP and CMP tests, and dedicated blood test panels are used to evaluate chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, and kidney failure. You’ll also find detailed guidance on potassium, bicarbonate, phosphorus, albumin, uric acid, and parathyroid hormone (PTH), including what high or low results may mean. For deeper kidney assessment, learn about emerging and specialized markers such as NGAL, KIM-1, beta-2 microglobulin, and SDMA. Each guide explains test purpose, result ranges, possible causes of abnormal findings, kidney-related risks, and when further evaluation may be needed.