Kidney function test is done to ascertain how your kidneys are functioning. Kidneys are important for removal of toxins and purifying the blood. They are also responsible for maintaining the blood pressure. The most important parameters in a kidney function test are Serum Creatinine, Uric Acid, Urea and Potassium. Increase in creatinine and urea may indicate CKD or chronic kidney disease whereas a high uric acid levels may lead to pain in joints. Higher potassium levels can severely affect the heart and can even lead to cardiac arrest.

Kidney Function Tests measures various parameters that indicate the health of your kidney. These parameters include:

1. Serum Creatinine- This is the most important part of the KFT or Kidney Function Test. Your kidney removes creatinine from the blood so that it can be flushed out of the body in the form of urine. When the kidneys are unable to flush out creatinine then the levels of creatinine start raising in blood indicating a kidney disease or failure.
2. Blood Urea Nitrogen/Blood Urea – Blood urea is a waste product of protein activity. Like creatinine, it is removed from the blood by the kidneys and cleared from the body in the form of urine. When kidneys do not function properly then the urea levels start to rise.
3. Calcium-Calcium is good for bones but an excess of calcium makes the kidneys work harder to filter it.
4. Phosphorus – Phosphorus is a very essential mineral for the bones, teeth, nervous system, and muscles.
5. Uric Acid – An increased uric acid levels in blood may lead to pain in the joints.
6. Sodium Levels – Sodium levels are maintained by the kidney. Low sodium levels may lead to person remaining drowsy and at times hallucinating.
7. Potassium – Potassium level is a very key aspect of the Kidney Function Test. An increased levels of potassium may severely impact heart and can lead to cardiac arrest.
8. Chloride – Chloride levels are important to maintain a healthy fluid balance in the body.

If you are suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease or are diabetic or hypertensive (high blood pressure) then you need to regularly check the functioning of your kidneys. Apart from the Kidney Function test you also need to consult a physician or nephrologist for taking a corrective action at the right point of time.

Kidney Function is blood test and needs no fasting or preparation before the test. The blood sample can be taken by the phlebotomist at a pathology lab or at home. at Maurya Labs, Purnea the test is done on Fully Automatic Biochemistry Analyzer Roche C311 from Switzerland. The sample collection takes less than a minute.

A person who is suffering from any kind of kidney disease or are diabetic or hypertensive should ideally get the Kidney Function Test done every month. Normal people should get the health check up done on an annual basis. Comprehensive health packages at Maurya Labs, Purnea in Bihar are designed with respect to age and medical condition.