Kidneys serve a very important function as part of the body’s urinary system. They are responsible for the removal of excess fluid and wastes from the circulatory system specifically, the blood. In order to determine how well a job the kidney is doing, specific tests are done to see if everything is in the right condition. Urine tests are used to show the rate in which the kidneys remove waste and if the kidneys are performing abnormally that unusual amount of protein are being excreted through the urine.
Blood tests can also contribute to the kidney profile health screening in Singapore by determining the amounts where in certain substances are present in the blood. Imaging Tests are also among those methods that involve sound waves or scans to detect any possible abnormality or obstruction present. Another manner that can be used in this screening is the use of biopsies. This involves medical interventions that are surgical in nature as well as performed with the use of a microscope.
With the use of these different tests, the health of a person can be determined through the state of his kidneys. Here are some of the different testing procedures involved.
Blood Tests
- Serum Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product example that results from the normal wearing and tearing of the body. Its amounts detected in the blood can vary from one person to another and is dependent on race, age and body size. If the creatinine levels are higher than average, this may be an early indication that the kidneys are not performing its function efficiently. And as disease of the kidney progresses, the creatinine levels present also increase.
- Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
Also known as GFR, this test is done in order to measure the efficiency in which the kidney has been removing waste and fluid that is in excess from blood. This can be computed from serum creatinine by the use of body size, weight, age and gender. Normal values of GFR can vary accordingly by age. As one gets older, the GFR decreases. A GFR that is lower than 60 can indicate that the kidneys are not functioning as they should be. And a GFR that is lower than 15 means that treatment procedures aimed for kidney failure like a kidney transplant or a dialysis is needed.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
Protein from the food that we ingest is broken down. This process then gives rise to byproducts. This is what turns into urea nitrogen. Normally, blood urea nitrogen value is between the ranges of 7 to 20. And as the normal function of the kidneys decreases, the level of urea nitrogen in the blood rises.
Imaging Tests
- Ultrasound
This test involves the use of sound waves to get an image of the kidney. This can be utilized to detect abnormalities in position or size of the individual’s kidneys or for possible obstructions like tumors, kidney stones or some other structure that is not normally found in the kidneys.
- CT Scan
As opposed to ultrasounds that make use of sound waves, CT Scans make use of a technique that involves contrast dye. This dye is then used to create an image of the kidneys. Similar to other imaging techniques, it can be utilized to investigate for abnormal structures and obstructions.
Kidney Biopsy
This health screening in Singapore is conducted on occasion only for reasons that may be one of the following:
- If there is a need for identification of a certain disease or test whether a specific treatment strategy is going to be effective or not.
- If there is a need for evaluation of the extent of damage that is present in the individual’s kidney.
- If there is a need to determine why the kidney transplant that was conducted has not been effective.
Urine Tests
Urine tests vary in the amount of urine needed in order to perform the test efficiently. Some tests would need a few tablespoons and some need an amount that a person produces for a whole day. Urine tests that need the 24-hour amount are aimed to know how much urine your kidneys produce in a day. This test can also be utilized by doctors to determine the amount of protein leaked to the urine in a day.