How Chronic Kidney Disease Is Diagnosed

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is primarily diagnosed with blood and urine tests that detect chemical imbalances caused by the progressive loss of kidney function. The tests may be accompanied by imaging tests and biopsies used to pinpoint the exact cause of the dysfunction.

Kidney function tests, also known as renal function tests, are important for monitoring the progression of the disease and your response to therapy. They are also vital to staging the disease and can help differentiate CKD from an acute kidney injury (AKI).

chronic kidney disease diagnosis
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Labs and Tests

Chronic kidney disease develops when the kidneys, for whatever reason, are unable to filter waste and regulate the balance of water and acids in the body. The disease can be diagnosed by measuring certain substances, known as markers, that either rise or fall when the kidneys are impaired.

The screening process begins with a battery of blood and urine tests that evaluate standard diagnostic markers such as serum creatinine (SCr), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary albumin, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

Serum Creatinine

Serum creatinine (SCr) tests measure the amount of a substance called creatinine in your blood. Creatinine is a by-product of muscle metabolism that is excreted in urine.

Because creatinine is produced and excreted at a fairly steady rate, it is a reliable measure of kidney function.

The normal ranges of SCr are:

  • 0.5 to 1.0 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) in women
  • 0.7 to 1.2 mg/dL in men

Glomerular Filtration Rate

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is an estimation of how well your kidneys are functioning. Specifically, it estimates how much blood passes through the tiny filters of your kidneys, called glomeruli, each minute. 

To calculate your GFR, the lab will use an algorithm that factors in your SCr value, age, ethnicity, gender, height, and weight.

The result can provide your healthcare provider a relatively accurate picture as to whether your kidneys are functioning normally or abnormally.

The GFR reference range is as follows:

GFR values can vary slightly from one lab to the next, as some may use a different formula to calculate the GFR. To this end, it helps to have your tests performed at the same lab to ensure consistency. 

It is also important to note that older people tend to have values lower than 60 because the GFR intrinsically decreases with age. 

Creatinine Clearance

Another means of estimating GFR is a test called creatinine clearance (CrCl), which compares your serum creatinine with the amount of creatinine excreted in urine over 24 hours. The algorithm would also factor in your age, ethnicity, height, and weight.

The normal range of CrCl values are:

  • 88 to 128 mL/min for women
  • 97 to 137 mL/min for men

Urinary Albumin

Glomeruli are components of a filtration unit called a nephron. The role of nephrons is to filter out larger cells like red blood cells and proteins so that they are not excreted. When the nephrons are damaged, protein and blood can escape and exit the body in urine.

One such protein, called albumin, can be used by the lab to detect proteinuria, the excessive accumulation of protein characteristic of kidney disease. To diagnose proteinuria, the healthcare provider may either perform a 24-hour urine test or, alternatively, calculate the ratio of urinary albumin to serum creatinine.

The normal ranges of urinary albumin are:

  • 0 to 8 mg/dL for the 24-hour urine test
  • 0 to 30 for a urinary albumin/creatinine ratio

Blood Urea Nitrogen

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) measures the amount of a waste product in your blood, called urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is created when the liver breaks down protein and, like serum creatinine, is produced and excreted at a fairly consistent rate.

The normal range of BUN values are:

  • 6 to 21 mg/dL for women
  • 8 to 24 mg/dL for men

High BUN value can also suggest the underlying cause of a kidney failure.

Urine Volume

Urine volume is the amount of fluid you urinate over a given period of time. It is primarily used to diagnose AKI and is measured in milliliters (mL) per kilograms of your body weight (kg) per hour.

Oliguria, the production of abnormally small volumes of urine, is characteristic of an acute kidney injury and is defined as anything less than 0.5 mL/kg/h. Oliguria is less common with CKD.

Kidney Disease Doctor Discussion Guide

Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions.

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Imaging

In addition to blood and urine tests, imaging tests can be used to identify and evaluate any damage that the kidneys may have sustained. Among them:

  • Ultrasound is the preferred method of imaging. It can be used to measure the size and appearance of the kidney and help locate tumors, lesions, and blockages. A newer technique called a Color Doppler can be used to identify clots, strictures (narrowing), or ruptures in the blood vessels of the kidneys.
  • X-rays are mainly used to assess the size of kidney stones or to measure the size and shape of the kidney.
  • Computed tomography (CT) is a type of X-ray that can produce cross-sectional images of the kidneys. CT scans can be useful in detecting cancer, lesions, abscesses, obstructions, kidney stones, and the accumulation of fluid around the kidneys. They can be used for obese people for whom an ultrasound may not provide a clear picture.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic waves to produce high-contrast images without radiation. While it can be just as useful as a CT scan, an MRI often requires a gadolinium contrast dye, which can cause a potentially fatal skin disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in people with poor kidney function.

Kidney Biopsy

A kidney biopsy involves taking a tissue sample of your kidney to examine under the microscope. The biopsy may either be percutaneous (in which a needle is inserted into the kidney through your back) or open (where tissue is obtained through a one- to two-inch laparoscopic surgical incision).

A kidney biopsy may be indicated in certain situations, including:

  • Kidney disease with no clear cause
  • Hematuria (blood in urine) 
  • Severe proteinuria accompanied by other signs of renal impairment (nephrotic syndrome)
  • Kidney trauma
  • Renal tumors
  • Kidney failure

Serious complications of a kidney biopsy are uncommon. In rare cases, bleeding can cause the formation of a renal clot and the inability to urinate. Infection is also possible but less likely if wound care is adhered to. 

Staging

The purpose of kidney disease staging is two-fold: to establish how functional the kidney is, and to determine the most appropriate course of treatment. For CKD, the staging is based solely on GFR results, which correspond to appropriate treatment plans.

Stage Description Estimated GFR Action Plan
1 Minimal loss of renal function Over 90 mL/min Diagnose and treat cardiovascular risk factors and minimize CKD progression
2 Mild loss of renal function 60 to 89 mL/min Diagnose and treat cardiovascular risk factors and minimize CKD progression
3 Moderate loss of renal function 30 to 59 mL/min Consult with a nephrologist
4 Severe loss of renal function 15 to 29 mL/min Prepare for dialysis or a kidney transplant
5 End-stage renal disease Under 15 mL/min Dialysis or kidney transplant

Differential Diagnoses

When there is evidence of renal impairment, the healthcare provider's first task is to differentiate between chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury. This is because AKI is often reversible if treated promptly and appropriately. By contrast, CKD is a progressive disease requiring lifelong monitoring and care.

There are a number of diagnostic clues that can help distinguish between the two conditions.

AKI CKD
Medical History Recent surgery, use of herbal or nephrotoxic drugs, urinary tract obstruction, dehydration, or signs of heart or liver failure A long history of diabetes, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, lupus, or urologic disorders
Serum Creatinine Usually increases over several days Usually increases over months or years
Creatinine Levels in Fingernail clippings Normal creatinine levels Elevated creatinine levels
Kidney Size Normal or larger than normal size on ultrasound Smaller than normal size on ultrasound

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is there an at-home test for kidney problems?

    There are home tests that allow you to collect blood or urine samples and drop them off at a lab or mail them in. Results are interpreted by a medical professional and sent to you. These may be a good option for people who are unable to visit a healthcare provider’s office or don't have insurance to cover the tests. However, if you’re able to make an appointment to see a practitioner, consider that option first.

  • When should I see a healthcare provider to check for kidney disease?

    If you know you’re predisposed to kidney disease or you're in a high-risk category, watch for early signs of a problem such as changes in blood pressure, feeling cold all the time, difficulty urinating or needing to frequently urinate at night. Consult a kidney doctor if you notice these symptoms.

12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Gounden V, Jialal I. Renal Function Tests. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

  2. Gaitonde, D.; Cook, D.; and Rivera, I. Chronic Kidney Disease: Detection and Evaluation. Amer Fam Phys.

  3. Shimada, M, Dass, B, Ejaz AA. Evaluation of elevated creatinine. BMJ Best Practice.

  4. National Kidney Foundation. What is the Difference Between sCr, eGFR, ACR, and BUN?.


  5. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Creatinine clearance test.

  6. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Albuminuria: Albumin in the Urine.

  7. Cleveland Clinic. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Test.

  8. National Kidney Foundation. Acute Kidney Injury: What Every Clinician Should Know.

  9. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Urinary Tract Imaging.

  10. National Kidney Foundation. What is a Kidney Biopsy?.


  11. Leddy J, Green JA, Yule C, Molecavage J, Coresh J, Chang AR. Improving proteinuria screening with mailed smartphone urinalysis testing in previously unscreened patients with hypertension: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Nephrol. 2019;20(1):132. doi:10.1186/s12882-019-1324-z

  12. Centers for Disease Control. National chronic kidney disease fact sheet.

Additional Reading
Veeraish Chauhan, MD

By Veeraish Chauhan, MD
Veeraish Chauhan, MD, FACP, FASN, is a board-certified nephrologist who treats patients with kidney diseases and related conditions.