Creatinine clearance test

The creatinine clearance test helps provide information about how well the kidneys are working. The test compares the creatinine level in urine with the creatinine level in blood.

Creatinine is a chemical waste product of creatine. Creatine is a chemical the body makes to supply energy, mainly to muscles.

By comparing the creatinine level in urine with the creatinine level in blood, this test estimates the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR is a measure of how well the kidneys are working, especially the kidneys’ filtering units. These filtering units are called glomeruli.

Creatinine is removed, or cleared, from the body entirely by the kidneys. If kidney function is abnormal, creatinine level increases in the blood because less creatinine is released through the urine.

Clearance is often measured as milliliters per minute (ml/min). Normal values are:

• Male: 97 to 137 ml/min
• Female: 88 to 128 ml/min

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples.

• Sample of blood serum as well as urine
• We perform the test daily