Almost all signs and symptoms of kidney problems are only experienced in late-stage kidney disease. This means that you are not likely to notice symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage. There are prior conditions/diseases that are known to cause kidney problems. If you have diabetes, hypertsnsion or autoimmune diseases, it is recommended that you get screened for any evidence of kidney dysfunction.

If you want to know if you have kidney problems, your doctor will likely do one or more of the following tests:

eGFR blood test

The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a test that measures your kidney fuction level and determines the stage of kidney disease you have. If your eGFR number is low, your kidneys may not be working as well as they should be, there are many tests that can assist in estimating your eGFR number.

Serum Creatinine Test

Creatinine emanates from the exertion of muscles, which leaks out to the blood and consequently gets filtered out through the kidneys. This test measures the amount of creatinine in the bloodstream to determine if the kidney's are effectively filtering out creatinine.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Test

Urea nitrogen is a waste product that is made when your body breaks down protein. It enters your blood and is filtered out by our kidneys and removed through the urine. This test measures the amount of urea nitrogen that is in your bloodstream.

Cystatin C Test

Cystatin C is created by the cells in your body, and needs to be filtered out. This test is often done when the other tests come back inconclusive.

Urine Test

Urinalysis tests can help designate factors that directly derive form kidney related problems. A urinalysis test is a microscopic examination of urine. They look for excessive amounts of protein, blood, and other substances. It can track a large amount of kidney and urinary tract problems, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes and others.

Kidney Ultrasound

An ultrasound is an imaging method that uses sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. It can be used to see the health of kidneys. An ultrasound on the kidneys will allow doctors to be able to see the bloodflow of the kidneys, any signs of damage, and any abnormalities. This gives doctors a pretty accurate assesment of Kidney health.

Kidney Biopsy

A kidney biopsy is a procedure that removes a small piece of kidney tissue, so that it can be examined for signs and symptoms of damage to the kidney's. It is a process meant for diagnosing suspected kidney problems. Is done by inserting a thin needle through the skin, and then removing a small piece of kindey tissue. *It is important to note that this test is only used in specific situations and is not required most of the time.