Kidney Blood Test

Our Kidney Blood Test can tell you how well your kidneys are functioning. If your kidneys aren’t working effectively, levels of waste products and toxins can build up in your blood. This test measures the levels of two waste products — creatinine and urea. If your levels are higher than expected, this could indicate a problem with your kidneys.

Your test results also include a calculation of your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). This is based on your creatinine level alongside your age, sex, and body size. Your eGFR shows you how well your kidneys are filtering waste products from your blood. It can indicate if you’re likely to have kidney disease, and if so, its estimated stage.

Kidney disease is normally caused by other conditions that put strain on your kidneys. Often, it’s the result of a combination of different problems.

One of the main causes of kidney disease is diabetes, where too much glucose in the blood damages the tiny filters in the kidneys. Other common causes include high blood pressure,high cholesterol, and glomerulonephritis, which causes inflammation of the filters within the kidneys.

Lifestyle factors such as smoking, being overweight, and drinking too much alcohol can make you more prone to getting kidney disease. And certain drugs such as anti-inflammatories may also be harmful to your kidneys, if taken regularly over a long period of time.

Kidney disease is a common condition, and your risk increases as you get older. It’s also more common in people who are black or of South Asian descent.

You may decide to take a Kidney Blood Test if you’re at higher risk of kidney disease. This might be due to having a condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease.

Regular testing can be helpful if you’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease and want to monitor your condition. Other reasons for having a kidney health check include regularly taking medications that could harm your kidneys, such as NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen), ACE inhibitors (e.g. ramipril), and some antibiotics.

Our at-home kidney function test can check if you’re likely to have kidney disease by calculating how well your kidneys are filtering your blood.

Your eGFR estimates how many millilitres of blood your kidneys should be able to filter in one minute. Healthy kidneys should be able to filter 90ml/min or more of blood. There is a chance you could have kidney disease if your eGFR is lower than this.

CKD (chronic kidney disease) is a long-term condition where the kidneys don’t work as well as they should. It can develop over many years with few signs or symptoms, especially in its early stages.

CKD can get worse over time, and eventually, the kidneys may stop working altogether. However, this only occurs in a small proportion of people and many people with CKD live long lives with the condition.

Yes, you can take our Kidney Blood Test at home using our finger-prick kidney test kit. We’ll send you everything you need to check your kidney function at home, including clear instructions and a pre-paid return envelope. Alternatively, you can have your blood sample taken at one of our convenient nationwide partner clinics at a time that suits you.

Please note, we don’t provide sodium results for finger-prick blood test samples due to the risk of falsely low readings.

Kidney disease doesn’t tend to cause symptoms in its early stages. So, it’s important to monitor your kidney function, especially if you’re diabetic, have high blood pressure, or a close relative with the condition.

Warning signs of kidney disease can include:

-Swollen ankles, feet, or hands — due to water retention (oedema)

-More frequent urination — particularly at night

-Blood in your urine

Even if you don’t have any signs or symptoms, kidney damage can still affect your health, as it can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, or a stroke.

You can reduce your risk of kidney disease by making some simple lifestyle changes. For example, aim to take regular exercise, which can help lower your blood pressure and boost your heart health.

A healthy, balanced diet, low in ultra-processed foods and salt, can also help reduce your risk of kidney damage. Choose foods that are fresh and full of nutrients like blueberries, fish, and wholegrains — they’re not just great for your kidneys but can benefit your overall health too. Staying hydrated can also help protect your kidneys by helping to clear toxins from your body.