Chronic Kidney Disease Screening Tests for Providers

Early Detection and Diagnosis for Improved Health:
Supporting your CKD Patients

To support detection, diagnosis and management of kidney disease in your patients, we offer several inexpensive and widely available tests. Diagnostic tests assess two key markers: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). Testing for these two markers can help evaluate patients at risk,1 while expanded tests can offer a more comprehensive assessment of closely related health concerns.

View our webinar on CKD and associated cardiovascular events

Gain insight into new strategies, tools and available resources available to help you manage patients at risk for CKD and potential associated cardiovascular events.

New Race-Free Equation for Chronic Kidney Disease Testing

We are now using a new, race-free equation to calculate the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a test used to assess kidney function. This change supports health equity and improves health outcomes.

CKD tests from Labcorp for health care providers

Understanding CKD Risk Factors

Diabetes is cited as the primary causative factor accounting for increased end-stage kidney disease.2 

To encourage physicians to test their patients who have type 1 or 2 diabetes and meet the needs of kidney health evaluation, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) introduced a new HEDIS® measure called Kidney Health Evaluation for Patients with Diabetes. 

Beyond diabetes and factors associated with age, race/ethnicity, obesity and family history, CKD risk factors can include patients with:
 

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Glomerular diseases 
  • Cystic diseases
  • Tubulointerstitial diseases

Testing Once a Year

CKD Guidance from Health Organizations

Kidney disease is typically asymptomatic in its earliest stages. The American Diabetes Association, the NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and many other endocrinology societies recommend testing patients with diabetes and hypertension at least annually to detect or monitor potential kidney damage.3-4 

Currently, less than 50% of people with diabetes receive both tests for eGFR and uACR annually.5 Labcorp has partnered with the National Kidney Foundation to help address this significant gap in care by increasing awareness among health professionals. 
 

As many as 90% of people living with CKD are unaware they have the disease.

Labcorp can help meet your CKD testing needs.

Contact a Labcorp representative to learn more about our CKD testing options and sign up for the latest news on testing and treatment options.

Caring for your Patients

Treatment Resources 

Kidney damage is generally irreversible, but early identification and interventions may help slow progression. Treatment of kidney disease often requires identifying the underlying cause to guide treatment. Management may involve controlling common complications associated with kidney disease, such as high blood pressure, anemia or mineral bone disorder, among others. 

To assess responses to interventions, it is important to periodically monitor changes in eGFR and uACR with readily available, inexpensive laboratory testing. For patients with compete or near-complete kidney failure, dialysis and kidney transplant are the only options. 
 

Chronic Kidney Disease Testing:
An Opportunity to Improve Patient Care 

References

  1. Quick Reference on UACR & GFR. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Accessed August 24, 2021. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/advanced-search/quick-reference-uacr-gfr
  2. Ghaderian SB, Hayati F, Shayanpour S, Beladi Mousavi SS. Diabetes and end-stage renal disease; a review article on new concepts. J Renal Inj Prev 2015;4:28–33. 
  3. Microvascular Complications and Foot Care: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2021. American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care Jan 2021, 44 (Supplement 1) S151-S167; DOI: 10.2337/dc21-S011. https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/44/Supplement_1/S151.full-text.pdf
  4. Diabetic Kidney Disease. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Accessed August 5, 2021. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-kidney-disease  
  5. New Kidney Health Evaluation Measure to Improve Kidney Disease Testing in Diabetes Patients. National Kidney Foundation. Accessed July 30, 2021.   https://www.kidney.org/news/new-kidney-health-evaluation-measure-to-improve-kidney-disease-testing-diabetes-patients