How to Check a GFR

The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the flow rate of filtered fluid through the kidneys. A GFR test measures your level of kidney function and determines your stage of kidney disease. If your physician sees other symptoms that your kidneys may not be operating properly, such as high blood pressure or increased protein levels, the physician may administer a GFR. If the kidneys are not operating properly, waste products will build up in the body, causing disease. Vital organs can fail in severe cases, possibly causing death. It is important to check your GFR levels if you have the symptoms of kidney disease and to understand the results.

Things You'll Need

• Lab report

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Inspect the lab report for the serum creatinine level. This test will show the quantity of creatinine present in the blood. Creatinine is a waste product that comes from creatinine and is found in muscle tissue. This test will measure how effectively the body is expelling creatinine. If the test shows a high concentration of creatinine, it indicates the kidneys are not expelling enough out. The creatinine is measure in milligrams per deciliter and the normal range is .8 to 1.4 mg/dL.

• 2

  Locate the glomercular filtration rate (GFR) on the test. The test will use your sex, serum and creatinine level to determine this number. A normal range of GFR is 30 or higher.

• 3

  Look for the letters BUN on the lab report. This is the blood urea nitrogen measurement and shows how much nitrogen the blood contains. Normal levels are between 7 and 20 mg/dl.