According to the Kidney Disease Foundation, 1 in 2 people with very low kidney function is unaware of their health condition. An estimated 37 million Americans have kidney disease, yet 90% of those people aren't aware they have it.
This general unawareness of such a life-threatening illness is very concerning, especially since it is a leading cause of death in the United States.
To protect yourself from kidney disease and failure, it's important to test your organ function with a kidney health test. Kidney health blood tests will help you assess your kidney function and take immediate action if the results show that your kidney is not functioning properly.
What Are Kidney Health Lab Panels?
Kidneys are organs in your body that filter your bloodstream to remove waste and excess fluid. Without them, our bloodstream fills with waste particles, and our bodies cannot regulate toxicity in our blood.
Kidney health lab panels are blood tests you can order to determine your kidney function. These tests assess your kidney health by measuring the amount of waste that is flowing through your bloodstream.
A fundamental waste particle, creatinine, comes from the normal use of your muscular system. Your creatinine levels can differ, usually depending on your weight, age, and race. As your kidneys slow down, more creatinine flows through your bloodstream unfiltered.
You should be meeting optimal levels in general, but you can also track the rise in creatinine levels over time using kidney function tests. For most women, creatinine levels should be under 1.2 when tested. For men, levels should be under 1.4.
Kidney health tests will consider your age and sex when assessing creatinine levels. There is also an adjustment factor for those of African American descent.
Benefits of Kidney Health Lab Testing
There are many benefits to checking your kidney health. If you are experiencing symptoms, a kidney blood test will help you determine if kidney function is the cause. For example, early signs that you could be suffering from kidney disease are:
- Exhaustion
- Trouble sleeping
- Dry or itchy skin
- Blood or foam in the urine
- Frequent urgency
- Constant eye puffiness
There are a few different causes of kidney disease. You might have a condition that causes a decreased blood flow to your organs, or you've suffered damage to your kidneys. You might have also suffered from blocked drainage tubes, which will stop waste from exiting your body.
If you have let symptoms persist without checking for kidney disease, your illness could progress to later stages. Acute kidney failure is when kidney function completely stops. You'll have to be hospitalized if you experience:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Decreased output of urine
- Chest pain and pressure
- Weakness
- Seizures
You won't get to this point if you are regularly checking your health and taking action. Getting kidney blood tests and knowing how to protect your kidneys can save your life.
Types of Kidney Health Tests
At Ulta Lab Tests, we offer four panels to choose from that you can order to assess your kidney function.
Kidney Health Basic Test
The kidney health basic test is the most popular panel by Ulta Lab Tests. This panel tests for 81 different biomarkers that can determine kidney health.
The first test on the panel is the CBC or complete blood count test. This test will check for 33 different biomarkers in your blood to check red and white blood cells. You may find that you have an increased white blood cell count, which is a sign of infection or allergic reaction.
The second test on the panel is the comprehensive metabolic panel. This test checks for 21 biomarkers produced by the liver, muscles, and kidneys.
In this test, you may find an increased amount of creatinine, which will indicate lowered kidney function.
Finally, there will also be a urinalysis test. This test will check for all the waste particles and extra cells that could indicate lowered kidney function when found in high levels.
Kidney Health Basic Plus Test
The kidney health basic plus panel adds two more tests. Along with the CBC, CMP, and urinalysis tests, you'll also receive the PTH and Uric Acid tests.
The PTH test checks parathyroid hormone levels, the hormone that controls calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorous levels in the blood.
The Uric Acid test checks for uric acid in the blood serum, which is created when your body breaks down purines. Purines are found in food and drink and should be filtered by the kidneys. If you have high levels of uric acid, it could mean your kidneys aren't functioning properly.
Kidney Health Advanced Test
The kidney health advanced panel adds 2 more tests, the creatinine urine test and the 25-Hydroxyvitamin D test. While the basic plus test will check for creatinine in the blood, you can also test if it is being excreted into your urine.
The 25-Hydroxyvitamin D test will test for levels of VItamin D2, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin D total in your blood's serum.
Kidney Health - Comprehensive
The kidney health comprehensive panel covers all the available tests for kidney health. You'll get all the above in addition to the ANA Screen, IFA with Reflex to Titer and Pattern, IFA test. This antinuclear antibody panel will reveal if an autoimmune disease is causing your illness.
Top 5 Kidney Function Tests
If you choose the Top 5 kidney function panel, you'll get the top 5 most popular targeted tests. This package includes the creatinine clearance test, microalbumin test, renal function panel, urinalysis test, and urine protein test.
By choosing this option, you'll get very targeted results about your kidney rather than checking your overall health and other causes of your illness.
Benefits of Kidney Health Lab Testing With Ulta Lab Tests
Ulta Lab Tests offers highly accurate and reliable tests so that you can make informed decisions about your health. Here are a few great things to love about Ulta Lab Tests:
- You'll get secure and confidential results
- You don't need health insurance
- You don't need a referral
- You'll get affordable pricing
- We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Order your kidney health test today, and your results will be provided to you securely and confidentially online in 24 to 48 hours for most tests!
Take control of your health today with Ulta Lab Tests.
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