Renal Function Profile

Renal function profile is a test to determine whether your kidneys were working properly. It is used to diagnose and manage the conditions affecting the kidney, suitable for someone who is at a risk of developing kidney disease.

Renal function profile (a.k.a. kidney function tests) is various of test that determine whether the kidneys are working properly. The test will help doctors and yourself to diagnose and manage the kidney.

Every human has two kidneys on either side of the spine at an approximate size of a human fist. Its purpose is to maintain human health by filtering out waste materials in the blood and to expel them out from the body as urine. It also helps control the levels of water and various essential minerals in the body. 

Renal function profile is essential to determine the conditions of the kidney especially to people who are at risk of developing kidney disease such as:

• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Kidney Stones
• Glomerulonephritis
• Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Urinary Tract Infections

For every kidney disease, it is difficult to notice whether a person had the diseases because the symptoms are rare and hardly noticeable. The symptoms that might be an early warning of developing kidney disease are:

• Fatigue
• Poor Appetite
• Insomnia or Trouble Sleeping
• Muscle Cramping
• Swollen Feet/ Ankles
• Urination Issues (such as frequent or painful urination)
• High Blood Pressure

The type of test that is involved in renal function profile is listed down below:

• Urinalysis: This test is used to screen for presence of protein and blood in the urine. The doctor would assign the patient to provide a 24 hour urine collection sample of which later the doctor will determine the creatinine and how it is cleared from the human body. 
• Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): This test will also check for waste products in the blood. It will measure the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood which is breakdown product of protein. Though this test may not just only conclude to kidney damage as medications may also increase your BUN. 
• Estimated GFR: This test will estimate how well the kidneys are filtering waste by looking at the factors such as age, gender, race, height, weight and test results that are specifically relates to creatinine levels.