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Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance
About this test
Creatinine and creatinine clearance tests measure the level of the
waste product
creatinine in your blood and urine. These tests tell
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. See
a picture of the
kidneys 
.
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.
Three types of tests on creatinine can be done:
Blood creatinine level
The blood creatinine level shows how well your kidneys are working. A high creatinine level may mean your kidneys are not working properly. The amount of creatinine in the blood depends partly on the amount of muscle tissue you have; men generally have higher creatinine levels than women.
Creatinine clearance test
A creatinine clearance test measures how well creatinine is removed from your blood by your kidneys. A creatinine clearance test gives better information than a blood creatinine test on how well your kidneys are working. A creatinine clearance test is done on both a blood sample and on a sample of urine collected over 24 hours (24-hour urine sample).
Blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio (BUN:creatinine)
The levels of blood creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) can be used to find the BUN-to-creatinine ratio. A BUN-to-creatinine ratio can help your doctor check for problems, such as dehydration, that may cause abnormal BUN and creatinine levels.
Urea is a waste product made when protein is broken down in your body. Urea is made in the liver and passed out of your body in the urine. A blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test measures the amount of urea in your blood. Like creatinine, it can help your doctor see how well your kidneys are working.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: August 9, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Tushar J. Vachharajani, MD, FASN, FACP - Nephrology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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