Renal Function Testing

This article discusses laboratory studies, which assist the clinician in assessing renal health. Current guidelines and the newest recommendations on when and who to test are examined. Focus is placed on the use of urinalysis and estimated glomerular filtration rate to screen and stage chronic kidney disease, the use of creatinine and noncreatinine biomarkers to detect acute kidney injury, the advantages of urine protein and urine electrolyte analysis in establishing underlying pathologic condition, and the use of imaging and biopsy to confirm diagnosis and underlying pathologic condition.