To book or ask about home collection, call 8872524007.
What the Creatinine test checks
Creatinine is a waste product made at a steady rate by your muscles. Healthy kidneys filter it out, so the level in blood stays fairly constant. When filtering slows, creatinine builds up.
Because creatinine depends on muscle mass, a raw number doesn't mean the same for everyone. A muscular young man and a slim elderly woman can have the same creatinine but very different kidney function. That's where the eGFR test value helps: it adjusts for age and sex using the CKD-EPI 2021 equation, the formula most labs now use.
Why your doctor may order it
- Checking kidney function in diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease
- Before starting, or while taking, medicines that are cleared by the kidneys or can affect them
- Before a CT scan with contrast dye
- Following up a raised result from an earlier KFT test
- Tracking known chronic kidney disease, where the trend over time matters most
How to prepare
No fasting is needed. A few things do shift creatinine, though:
- A large meat or chicken meal in the previous 12 hours can raise it for a while
- Creatine supplements, popular with gym-goers, push it up
- Very heavy exercise the day before can raise it slightly
- Some medicines, such as trimethoprim and cimetidine, raise creatinine without harming the kidney
Mention supplements and medicines on the form, and don't stop anything prescribed.
Sample type and report time
A small sample goes into a serum tube. The creatinine test result and eGFR are usually ready the same day if collected by about 11 am, as a printed copy and a WhatsApp PDF.
If you need a serum creatinine test near me for a parent in Banur or Rajpura, we can come to you; see home sample collection.
Understanding your results
Creatinine is reported in mg/dL; adult values are often roughly 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL, a little higher in men. eGFR is reported in mL/min/1.73 m². An eGFR of 90 or more is usual in younger adults, and it falls gradually with age.
KDIGO guidance treats an eGFR below 60 for three months or more as chronic kidney disease. eGFR is less reliable in acute illness, pregnancy, very low or very high muscle mass and in children. The range printed on your report is the one that applies, ranges vary by lab and method, and your doctor reads the result alongside your symptoms and other tests.
FAQ
What is the difference between creatinine and eGFR?
Creatinine is the measured value. eGFR is calculated from it to estimate kidney filtering, adjusted for age and sex.
Can drinking more water lower my creatinine?
Being dehydrated can raise it, so normal hydration matters. Drinking extra water before the test doesn't improve real kidney function.
My creatinine is slightly high but I go to the gym. Is that normal?
High muscle mass and creatine supplements both raise creatinine. Tell your doctor, who may order a repeat or a different marker such as cystatin C.
Is a single high creatinine result serious?
It needs follow-up, but one result isn't a diagnosis. Doctors usually repeat it and look at the trend.
Book at Alpha Laboratory
Book your serum creatinine test by calling 8872524007 or WhatsApp us. Our address is on the contact page.