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Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine, which is an important part of muscle. This article discusses the laboratory test to measure the amount of creatinine in the blood.
Creatinine can also be measured with a urine test. See: Creatinine - urine
Alternative NamesSerum creatinine
How the test is performedBlood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.
Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.
How to prepare for the testThe health care provider may tell you to stop taking certain drugs that may affect the test. Such drugs include:
- Aminoglycosides (for example, gentamicin)
- Cimetidine
- Heavy metal chemotherapy drugs (for example, Cisplatin)
- Kidney damaging drugs such as cephalosporins (for example, cefoxitin)
- Trimethoprim
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performedThe test is done to evaluate kidney function. Creatinine is removed from the body entirely by the kidneys. If kidney function is abnormal, creatinine levels will increase in the blood (because less creatinine is released through your urine).
Creatinine levels also vary according to a person's size and muscle mass.
Normal ValuesA normal value is 0.8 to 1.4 mg/dL.
Females usually have a lower creatinine than males, because they usually have less muscle mass.
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What abnormal results meanHigher-than-normal levels may indicate:
- Acute tubular necrosis
- Dehydration
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Eclampsia (a condition of pregnancy that includes seizures)
- Glomerulonephritis
- Kidney failure
- Muscular dystrophy
- Preeclampsia(pregnancy-induced hypertension)
- Pyelonephritis
- Reduced kidney blood flow (shock, congestive heart failure)
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Urinary tract obstruction
Lower-than-normal levels may indicate:
- Muscular dystrophy (late stage)
- Myasthenia gravis
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
- Alport syndrome
- Atheroembolic kidney disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cushing syndrome
- Dementia due to metabolic causes
- Dermatomyositis
- Diabetes
- Digitalis toxicity
- Ectopic Cushing syndrome
- Generalized tonic-clonic seizure
- Goodpasture syndrome
- Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS)
- Hepatorenal syndrome
- Interstitial nephritis
- Lupus nephritis
- Malignant hypertension (arteriolar nephrosclerosis)
- Medullary cystic kidney disease
- Membranoproliferative GN Iand GN II
- Type 2 diabetes
- Polymyositis (adult)
- Prerenal azotemia
- Primary amyloidosis
- Secondary systemic amyloid
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
- Wilms' tumor
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling light-headed
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
- Multiple punctures to locate veins
Bazari H. Approach to the patient with renal disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 115.
What else can I help you with?
What is a creatinine test?
A creatinine test is a blood test that measures the level of creatinine in your blood. Creatinine is a waste product produced by the muscles, and the test is commonly used to assess kidney function. High levels of creatinine in the blood may indicate reduced kidney function.
What is the creatinine test?
Creatinine test. This test measures blood levels of creatinine, a by-product of muscle energy metabolism that, similar to urea, is filtered from the blood by the kidneys and excreted into the urine.
The test that measures the ability of the kidney to remove creatinine from the blood is called?
The test that measures the ability of the kidney to remove creatinine from the blood is called a creatinine clearance test. It involves collecting urine over a specific time period and comparing the amount of creatinine in the blood with that in the urine to assess kidney function.
What is the cpt code for blood creatinine?
82565
IS 58 a normal creatinine your level?
The normal value of creatinine in blood is 0.2-1.2 mg/dl.
Is 58 a normal creatinine level?
The normal value of creatinine in blood is 0.2-1.2 mg/dl.
What does raised creatinine clearance mean?
Creatinine and creatinine clearance tests measure creatinine levels (the level of the waste product) in your blood and urine to give information about how well your kidneys are working. The substance creatine is formed when food is changed into energy through a process called metabolism. Creatine is broken down into another substance called creatinine, which is taken out of your blood by the kidneys and then passed out of your body in urine. Creatinine is made at a steady rate and is not affected by diet or by normal physical activities. If your kidneys are damaged and cannot work normally, the amount of creatinine in your urine goes down while its level in your blood goes up. The creatinine clearance value is found from the amounts of creatinine in the urine and blood and from the amount of urine you pass in 24 hours. This value is the amount of blood cleared of creatinine per minute, based on your body size.
Is creatinine a nitrogenous waste product?
Yes, creatinine is a nitrogenous waste product that is produced from the breakdown of creatine in muscle tissues. It is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and excreted in urine. Elevated levels of creatinine in the blood can indicate kidney dysfunction.
What does high blood creatinine?
Creatinine is a waste product of our metabolism. Some factors that may lead to high urinary creatinine level are pregnancy,hypothyroidism,muscle injury(esp. crushing injury) and strenuous exercise.
Is creatinine kinase the same as creatinine?
No, creatinine kinase and creatinine are not the same. Creatinine kinase is an enzyme found in muscle cells, while creatinine is a waste product produced by muscle metabolism. Measuring creatinine levels in the blood is a common way to assess kidney function, while creatinine kinase levels are often monitored in conditions affecting muscles, such as heart attacks or muscular dystrophy.
What is creatinine and how is it excreted?
Creatinine is a waste product produced by the breakdown of creatine in muscles. It is filtered by the kidneys and excreted in urine. High levels of creatinine in the blood can indicate kidney dysfunction.
Does drinking alcohol increases creatinine level in blood?
yes
