Kidney Profile Test — Expanded

About this test

This expanded panel provides a thorough assessment of kidney health by combining standard kidney markers with two additional tests — cystatin C for a more accurate filtration estimate, a urinalysis for direct urine evaluation, a CMP for broader metabolic context, and a CBC to check for anemia related to kidney disease. It's appropriate for people with known kidney disease, significant risk factors, or unexplained abnormal kidney markers.

The added depth of this panel helps distinguish between true kidney disease and other factors that can affect creatinine (such as muscle mass or protein intake), and it catches complications of kidney disease like anemia and electrolyte imbalances early.

Components

• Creatinine and eGFR: Core markers of kidney filtration efficiency. Creatinine is a waste product your kidneys should filter out; eGFR is calculated to estimate overall filtration capacity.
• Albumin and Albumin/Creatinine Ratio: Detects protein leaking into urine — an early and sensitive marker of kidney damage, especially in people with diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Cystatin C: A protein produced by all cells at a constant rate and filtered exclusively by the kidneys. Cystatin C-based eGFR estimates are more accurate than creatinine-based estimates, particularly for people with low muscle mass, very high muscle mass, or early-stage kidney disease.
• Urinalysis: Directly examines urine for blood, protein, white blood cells, casts, and other abnormalities that indicate how the kidneys and urinary tract are functioning.
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): Checks electrolytes (sodium, potassium, bicarbonate), blood sugar, and liver markers alongside kidney function — important because kidney disease affects electrolyte balance and can mimic or coexist with other organ problems.
• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Checks for anemia, which develops when declining kidneys produce less erythropoietin — the hormone that stimulates red blood cell production. Anemia of chronic kidney disease is very common and affects energy and quality of life.

Who is this test for?

This expanded profile is best suited for people with a known kidney condition, those on medications that require regular kidney monitoring (such as NSAIDs, lithium, or ACE inhibitors), and individuals whose basic kidney panel came back abnormal. It provides additional markers to better characterize how the kidneys are filtering and what may be affecting their function.