RENAL FUNCTION TEST (RFTs)/ KIDNEY
FUNCTION TEST (KFTs)
Kidney function tests are urine or blood tests that evaluate how well your
kidneys are working. Most of these tests measure glomerular filtration rate
(GFR).
GFR assesses how efficiently your kidneys clear waste from your system.
Your kidneys play several vital roles in maintaining your health.
One of their most important jobs is to filter waste materials from the blood
and expel them from the body as urine.
The kidneys also help control the levels of water and various essential
minerals in the body.
If your doctor thinks your kidneys may not be working properly, you may
need kidney function tests.
Symptoms of kidney problems
Symptoms that may indicate a problem with your kidneys include:
high blood pressure
blood in the urine (hematuria).
frequent urges to urinate
difficulty beginning urination
painful urination
swelling of the hands and feet due to a buildup of fluids in the body
Types of kidney function tests
To test your kidney function, your doctor will order a set of tests that can
estimate your glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Your GFR tells your doctor how
quickly your kidneys are clearing waste from your body.
Urinalysis
A urinalysis screens for the presence of protein and blood in the urine. There are
many possible reasons for protein in your urine, not all of which are related to
disease.
Serum creatinine test
This blood test examines whether creatinine is building up in your blood. The
kidneys usually completely filter creatinine from the blood. A high level of
creatinine suggests a kidney problem.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test also checks for waste products in your blood.
BUN tests measure the amount of nitrogen in the blood. Urea nitrogen is a
breakdown product of protein.
However, not all elevated BUN tests are due to kidney damage. Common
medications, including large doses of aspirin and some types of antibiotics, can
also increase your BUN.
Estimated GFR
This test estimates how well your kidneys are filtering waste. The test determines
the rate by looking at factors, such as:
test results, specifically creatinine levels
age
gender
race
height
weight
24-hour urine sample
A 24-hour urine sample is a creatinine clearance test. It gives your doctor an idea
of how much creatinine your body expels over a single day.
For the rest of the day and night, urinate into a special container provided
by your doctor.
Keep the container capped and refrigerated during the collection process.
Make sure to label the container clearly and to tell other family members
why it’s in the refrigerator.
Blood samples
BUN and serum creatinine tests require blood samples taken in a lab or doctor’s
office.
liver Function Test
Liver function tests are blood tests that measure different substances
produced by your liver.
These measurements give your healthcare provider important information
about the overall health of your liver and how well it’s working.
Liver function tests are blood tests that measure different substances
produced by your liver, including proteins, enzymes and bilirubin.
What are the five primary liver function tests?
The most common liver tests include:
Liver enzymes test. Your liver enzymes include alkaline phosphatase (ALP),
alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-
glutamyl transferase (GGT). These are elevated when there’s liver injury.
Total protein test.A total protein test measures levels of protein in your blood.
Your liver makes protein, and low protein levels may indicate that your liver isn’t
functioning optimally.
Bilirubin test. Bilirubin is a waste product that your liver deposits in bile.
LDH test. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme found in many of your
body’s tissues, including your liver.
Prothrombin Time (PT) test. This test measures how long it takes for a
sample of your blood to clot, a process that involves proteins that your liver
produces.
When are tests done to check liver function?
to check these values to screen you for possible hepatitis or other liver diseases.
If they already know that you have liver disease, they might want to check how it’s
progressing or whether a treatment is working.
side effects of certain medications that are known to affect your liver.
What kinds of things can a liver panel tell you?
Different values and ratios of different substances may tell your healthcare provider:
If you have liver inflammation (hepatitis).
Whether the inflammation is alcohol-related or nonalcoholic (metabolic).
Whether you have a problem in your liver itself or in your bile ducts.
If your liver function is impaired, and if so, how much.
If your bile flow is impaired, and if so, how much.
Whether your medications are affecting your liver, and if so, how much.
NORMAL RANGES IN LFT
Alanine transaminase (ALT): 0 to 45 IU/L. (Elevated AST and ALT levels may
indicate liver injury.)
Aspartate transaminase (AST): 0 to 35 IU/L.( it indicates alcohol-induced injury.)
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP): 30 to 120 IU/L.
Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT): 0 to 30 IU/L.
Bilirubin: 2 to 17 micromoles/L.
Prothrombin time (PT): 10.9 to 12.5 seconds.
Albumin: 40 to 60 g/L.
Total proteins: 3 to 8.0 g/dL.
Thyroid Function Test(TFT)
Thyroid tests check to see if your thyroid gland works like it
should.
Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that sits just
above your sternum (breastbone). It produces hormones that
control several different body systems.
It’s like a command center that manages how your body uses
energy.
You might need a thyroid test if you have symptoms like fatigue,
sluggishness, restlessness, irritability or unexplained weight
changes.
Thyroid tests can help diagnose thyroid diseases like:
Hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism.
Thyroiditis.
Graves’ disease.
Hashimoto’s disease.
Types of thyroid tests
Thyroid blood tests check for hormones and proteins like
antibodies and thyroglobulin.
These tests can tell you if you have conditions like
hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism
(overactive thyroid).
There are several types of thyroid blood tests, including TSH
(thyroid-stimulating hormone) , T3 and T4, and thyroid
antibodies.
Thyroid imaging Thyroid imaging tests can help determine the
size, shape, position, and function of your thyroid gland.
How do thyroid blood tests work?
TSH measures your thyroid-stimulating hormone. This is
usually the first test most providers recommend. Your
pituitary gland (part of your brain) makes TSH. It travels to
your thyroid gland, stimulating it to produce thyroid
hormones, T3 and T4.
T3 (or free T3) measures the amount of triiodothyronine in
your blood. This hormone is one of two main hormones that
your thyroid makes.
T4 (or free T4) measures the amount of thyroxine in your
blood. Thyroxine is the other main type of hormone that your
thyroid makes.
Thyroid antibody tests tell your provider whether or not
there are thyroid antibodies in your blood. The presence of
thyroid antibodies might mean you have an autoimmune
disorder like Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s disease.
How do thyroid imaging tests work?
Thyroid ultrasound
computed tomography (CT)
NORMA VALUES
