Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017 | 
Creatinine urine test
Urine creatinine test
The creatinine urine test measures the amount of creatinine in urine. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working.
Creatinine can also be measured by a blood test.
How the Test is Performed
After you provide a urine sample, it is tested in the lab. If needed, your doctor may ask you to collect your urine at home over 24 hours . Your health care provider will tell you how to do this. Follow instructions exactly so that the results are accurate.
Collect your urine at home over 24 hour
The urine 24-hour volume test measures the amount of urine produced in a day. The amount of creatinine, protein, and other chemicals released into t...
How to Prepare for the Test
Your health care provider may tell you to temporarily stop taking certain medicines that may affect test results. Be sure to tell your provider about all the medicines you take. These include:
- Antibiotics such as cefoxitin or trimethoprim
- Cimetidine
DO NOT stop taking any medicine before talking to your provider.
How the Test will Feel
The test involves only normal urination. There is no discomfort.
Why the Test is Performed
Creatinine is a chemical waste product of creatine. Creatine is a chemical the body makes to supply energy, mainly to muscles.
This test is done to see how well your kidneys work. Creatinine is removed by the body entirely by the kidneys. If kidney function is not normal, creatinine level in your urine decreases.
This test can be used for the following:
- To evaluate how well the kidneys are working
-
As part of the
creatinine clearance
test
Creatinine clearance
The creatinine clearance test helps provide information about how well the kidneys are working. The test compares the creatinine level in urine with...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - To provide information on other chemicals in the urine, such as albumin or protein
Normal Results
Urine creatinine (24-hour sample) values can range from 500 to 2000 mg/day. Results depend on your age and amount of lean body mass.
Another way of expressing the normal range for test results is:
- 14 to 26 mg per kg of body mass per day for men
- 11 to 20 mg per kg of body mass per day for women
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal results of urine creatinine may be due to any of the following:
- High meat diet
-
Kidney problems, such as
damage to the tubule cells
Damage to the tubule cells
Acute tubular necrosis is a kidney disorder involving damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys, which can lead to acute kidney failure.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article -
Kidney failure
Kidney failure
Acute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article -
Too little blood flow to the kidneys,
damage to filtering units
Damage to filtering units
Glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease in which the part of your kidneys that helps filter waste and fluids from the blood is damaged....
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
-
Muscle breakdown (
rhabdomyolysis
), or loss of muscle tissue (
myasthenia gravis
)
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents into the blood. These substances are harmful to ...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark ArticleMyasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder. Neuromuscular disorders involve the muscles and the nerves that control them.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Urinary tract obstruction
Risks
There are no risks with this test.
References
Inker LA, Fan L, Levey AS. Assessment of renal function. In: Johnson RJ, Feehally J, Floege J. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology . 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 3.
Landry DW, Bazari H. Approach to the patient with renal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 114.
McPherson RA, Ben-Ezra J. Basic examination of urine. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods . 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 28.
-
Female urinary tract - illustration
The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.
Female urinary tract
illustration
-
Male urinary tract - illustration
The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.
Male urinary tract
illustration
-
Creatinine tests - illustration
A measurement of the serum creatinine level is often used to evaluate kidney function. Urine creatinine levels can be used as a screening test to evaluate kidney function, or can be part of the creatinine clearance test.
Creatinine tests
illustration
-
Creatinine urine test - illustration
Urine creatinine levels can be used as a screening test to evaluate kidney function, or can be part of the creatinine clearance test.
Creatinine urine test
illustration
-
Female urinary tract - illustration
The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.
Female urinary tract
illustration
-
Male urinary tract - illustration
The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.
Male urinary tract
illustration
-
Creatinine tests - illustration
A measurement of the serum creatinine level is often used to evaluate kidney function. Urine creatinine levels can be used as a screening test to evaluate kidney function, or can be part of the creatinine clearance test.
Creatinine tests
illustration
-
Creatinine urine test - illustration
Urine creatinine levels can be used as a screening test to evaluate kidney function, or can be part of the creatinine clearance test.
Creatinine urine test
illustration
-
Kidney stones
(In-Depth)
Review Date: 8/29/2015
Reviewed By: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
