Kidney health blood tests, at home

No fasting strictly required for KFT alone. Some labs prefer a morning fasting sample for cleaner urea values. If combining with lipid profile or fasting sugar, then 8–12 hours of fasting is standard.

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate is the percentage of normal kidney function. It's calculated from creatinine, age and sex. Above 90 is normal, 60–89 is mild loss, 30–59 is moderate CKD, below 30 needs nephrologist care. eGFR is the most clinically useful number on the report.

Tiny amounts (microalbumin) are an early sign of kidney damage in diabetes or hypertension — and is reversible with tight blood-sugar and BP control. Larger amounts suggest more advanced kidney disease and need nephrology evaluation.

Don't stop any prescribed medication without consulting your doctor. Disclose all supplements, NSAIDs, antibiotics and contrast scans in the last 48 hours — these can transiently affect creatinine. Hydrate normally; don't drink excess water just before the test as it dilutes the sample.

Urine routine catches large protein leaks. Microalbumin urine is far more sensitive — it picks up early-stage protein leakage (30–300 mg/g creatinine) that's invisible on a standard urine test. It's the standard yearly screen for diabetics in India.