Kidney Disease
Frequently Asked Questions
8. What does the blood test for kidney disease reveal?
The blood test for kidney disease is called a GFR. (GFR stands for glomerular filtration rate.) This test helps your doctor measure how much blood your kidneys filter each minute. This shows how well your kidneys are working.
GFR is reported as a number. A GFR below 60 may mean you have kidney disease. However, because GFR decreases as people age, other information may be needed to determine if you actually have kidney disease if you are older and your GFR is decreased. You can't raise your GFR, but you can try to keep it from going lower. Ask your healthcare provider what you can do to keep your kidneys healthy.
