Creatinine Test

Description

Creatinine tests are used to screen, diagnose, and monitor kidney (renal) disorders, including chronic kidney disease and acute renal failure. It can also be used to evaluate how other diseases, such as heart and liver disease, impact the kidneys. A creatinine test is a measure of how well the kidneys are doing their job of filtering waste from the blood. Creatinine is a chemical compound left over from energy-making processes in muscles. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine out of the blood. Creatinine exits the body as a waste product in urine. People with only one kidney may have a normal creatinine level of about 1.8 or 1.9. Creatinine levels of 2.0 or more in infants and 5.0 or more in adults may indicate severe kidney damage. People who are dehydrated may have elevated creatinine levels.