Kidney Profile Test — Basic

About this test

This basic kidney panel measures four markers that together provide a reliable assessment of how well your kidneys are filtering waste and whether protein is being lost into the urine — an early sign of kidney damage. It's appropriate for routine kidney health screening, especially if you have risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease.

Early kidney disease often has no symptoms. These markers can detect problems before they become serious, giving you and your clinician the opportunity to take action to slow or prevent further progression.

Components

• Creatinine: A waste product produced by muscle activity that is filtered out by the kidneys. A rising creatinine level indicates the kidneys are clearing waste less efficiently.
• Albumin: The main protein in your blood, normally kept out of urine by healthy kidneys. High albumin in the blood can suggest dehydration or other causes; its measurement here is used in the ratio calculation below.
• Albumin/Creatinine Ratio (urine): Detects microalbuminuria — small amounts of the protein albumin leaking into the urine. This is one of the earliest signs of kidney damage and is especially important to monitor in people with diabetes or hypertension.
• Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR): A calculated estimate of how much blood your kidneys filter per minute, derived from your creatinine level, age, and sex. eGFR is used to classify kidney disease stages and track progression over time.

Who is this test for?

Routine kidney screening is recommended for adults with high blood pressure, diabetes, a family history of kidney disease, or a history of recurring kidney infections or kidney stones. The American Diabetes Association recommends annual kidney function testing for all people with diabetes. This basic profile is also a practical choice for anyone who wants a general check of their kidney health as part of an annual wellness assessment.