Chronic Kidney Disease Screening Tests
Providers
Providers
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.
Gain insight into new strategies, tools and available resources available to help you manage patients at risk for CKD and potential associated cardiovascular events.
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.
Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio+eGFR + Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio+eGFR + Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Lipid Profile with non-HDL Cholesterol+ Hemoglobin A1c + Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio+eGFR
Patient screening requires serum (preferred) or plasma as well as urine samples; results are typically delivered within one day.
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:
Testing Once a Year
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.
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
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.