WHAT IS AN EGFR TEST?
An Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (EGFR) test is used to analyze the functioning of your kidneys. There are tiny filters in the kidneys called glomeruli. These filters are helpful in removing waste and other excess fluids that are present in the blood. An EGFR test calculates the amount of blood that passes through the glomeruli in each minute.
WHEN AND WHY TO GET TESTED?
It may be required to conduct an EGFR test, if you experience the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Muscle cramps
- Swelling in arms, feet or legs
- Appetite loss
- Unusual urination (more than usual or less than usual)
An EGFR test can be conducted as part of your routine health checkup together with a blood creatinine test. Moreover, the test is also conducted when a doctor suspects that there’s a risk of kidney disease. An EGFR test is also used to diagnose Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), so if you are a patient of CKD, then it is recommended to get tested one time a year. Usually, there aren’t any symptoms of early-stage kidney diseases. But you might be diagnosed with chronic kidney disease for the following risk factors:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Kidney failure history in family
WHAT IS THE TEST PREPARATION AND SAMPLE COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TEST?
An EGFR test is the estimation of the actual glomerular filtration rate and its results depend on the levels of blood creatinine or blood cystatin C. For the test preparation, your health practitioner would ask you to fast overnight or abstain from consuming cooked meat. According to some researches, consuming cooked meat before conducting the test can result in a temporary increase in creatinine levels. Whereas, for a cystatin C test to calculate the EGFR, no test preparation is required. The sample collection for this test is simple. A blood sample is taken from a vein. According to the formula (blood creatinine level or blood cystatin C level), the lab might also ask for your sex, age, and race.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE TEST RESULTS?
The results of an EGFR test are usually calculated in milliliters/minute/1.73m 2 or mL/min/1.73m. The AGFR test results could indicate any one of the following conditions:
- Normal: These results could indicate that you are probably not a patient of kidney failure.
- Below Normal: These results could mean that you might have kidney disease.
- Far Below Normal: These results show that you have kidney failure.
AWAMI LAB SERVICES
Awami lab offers the best lab services In Gujrat. We not only offer the best lab services in Gujrat, but we also feel that it is our duty to educate our patients about their overall health. Awami lab ensures to provide the best lab services for EGFR test. We make sure that the reports are handed over to the patient as soon as possible so that the further procedures of a patient’s treatment could not be delayed. Choose Awami Lab for the best lab services for EGFR test and a trusted health care routine.
