KIDNEY FUNCTION TEST (KFT) - BASIC
🌊 Kidney Health PanelReport: Same Day
Sample Type: Blood (Serum)
Test Code: BC303 (Assigned)
• 10-12 hours of overnight fasting is required.
• This ensures accurate results for Urea and Creatinine levels, which can be affected by a recent high-protein meal.
The Kidney Function Test (KFT) - Basic is a fundamental blood panel designed to evaluate the health and function of your kidneys. This profile, offered by our diagnostic center, measures key waste products (Urea, Creatinine, Uric Acid) and essential electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride) to provide a comprehensive snapshot of how well your kidneys are filtering your blood.
✔ A crucial test for screening and monitoring kidney health.
✔ Helps in the early detection of kidney dysfunction or disease.
✔ Essential for patients with Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, or a family history of kidney problems.
✔ Includes 9 key parameters for a thorough assessment.
Tests Included in This Panel (9 Tests)
This panel, analyzed in our state-of-the-art laboratory, provides a detailed report on the following 9 key markers:
- Urea
- Creatinine - Serum
- Uric Acid
- Sodium (Na+)
- Potassium (K+)
- Chloride
- Urea/Creatinine Ratio (Calculated)
- BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) (Calculated)
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio (Calculated)
What These Parameters Mean
1. Kidney Waste Products (Urea, Creatinine, BUN)
Your kidneys act as your body's primary filter. When you eat protein, your body produces waste products like Urea (measured as Blood Urea Nitrogen or BUN) and Creatinine (from muscle metabolism). Healthy kidneys easily filter these wastes out into your urine. If your kidneys are damaged, they can't filter properly, causing these waste products to build up in your blood. High levels are a key sign of kidney dysfunction.
2. Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride)
These are essential minerals that are vital for maintaining proper fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contraction. Your kidneys are responsible for keeping the levels of Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride in perfect balance. Abnormal levels can indicate a kidney problem or other systemic issues like dehydration or hormonal imbalances.
3. Gout Risk (Uric Acid)
This test measures Uric Acid, another waste product from the breakdown of purines. While high levels are famous for causing gout, they also put a strain on the kidneys and can be a sign that the kidneys are not excreting it properly.
4. Key Ratios (BUN/Creatinine Ratio)
The Urea/Creatinine Ratio and BUN/Creatinine Ratio are crucial calculations that help your doctor determine the cause of kidney dysfunction. A high ratio, for example, might suggest dehydration or bleeding, while a normal ratio with high waste products might point to more direct kidney damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A KFT is recommended as a routine checkup, especially for individuals with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or a family history of kidney failure. It is also done to monitor kidney health if you are taking certain medications.
Fasting for 10-12 hours is recommended because a recent high-protein meal can temporarily increase your Urea and BUN levels. Fasting provides a more accurate and stable baseline for your doctor to evaluate.
High levels of creatinine and urea in the blood are a strong indicator that your kidneys are not filtering waste effectively. This is a sign of kidney dysfunction, which can be acute or chronic, and requires immediate medical attention.
They are closely related. BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) specifically measures the amount of nitrogen within the urea molecule. Urea is the complete waste molecule. Both are used to assess kidney function, and our laboratory provides both values for a complete picture.