kidney function tests
The definitions used in this glossary of terminology either have been provided by the authors of the articles, or have been extracted wholly or in part, or paraphrased from the following sources: The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, Charles B. Clayman, MD, Medical Editor, Random House, New York, 1989; Biotechnology from A to Z, 2d Edition, William Bains, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; A Dictionary of Genetics, 6th Edition, Robert C. King and William D. Stansfield, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 29th and 30th Editions, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2000, 2003; Genes VII, Benjamin Lewin, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2000; The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Volumes I and II, Stacey L. Blachford, Ed., Thomson Learning, New York, New York, 2002; The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, Massachusetts, 1997; Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3rd Edition, Bruce Alberts, et al., Garland Publishing, 1994; The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged Edition, 1966; Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1991.
DEFINITION:
- kidney function tests
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Tests performed to investigate urinary symptoms and kidney disorders. Kidney function tests may also be performed as part of a routine investigation before major surgery, or before prescribing drugs that are eliminated by the kidney. The tests are also performed to determine the function of a transplanted kidney.
Types
Urinalysis is a simple kidney function test. Collected urine is examined under the microscope for blood cells, pus cells, and casts (cells and mucuslike material that accumulate within the tubules and pass into the urine). Urine may also be cultured to confirm the presence of infection. It also may be tested for substances that are present only when the kidneys are diseased or damaged.
Kidney function can be assessed by measuring the concentration of substances in the blood (such as urea and creatinine) normally eliminated from the body via healthy kidneys. The creatinine clearance test provides an assessment of kidney function by comparing the amount of creatinine in the blood with the amount excreted in the urine over a timed interval, usually 24 hours.
Kidney function may also be assessed by kidney imaging techniques, which can help identify whether one or both kidneys are diseased.
Used in 2 Term definitions
Used in 2 Term definitions