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Labcorp is your source for detecting chronic kidney disease and informing treatment decisions.

We’re dedicated to providing test results that empower earlier detection of CKD, support diagnoses, disease monitoring, and treatment decisions. Together, let’s raise awareness about kidney health risks and enable better patient care.

Early Detection Can Help Prevent Progression and Improve Outcomes for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) 1

Every minute, a half cup of blood flows through tiny filters in the kidneys as they remove waste and extra water to make urine, help control blood pressure and provide the right balance of minerals and nutrients in the blood. 

When kidneys are damaged—which is commonly caused by diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and/or family history of kidney failure—these important organs gradually lose their ability to function properly. The initial signs and symptoms in the early stages of kidney disease can often progress unnoticed without laboratory testing.

CKD is classified in five stages of kidney damage. A simple laboratory test provides important information about kidney function. One test result is called the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 2, a calculation that is used to determine how well the kidneys are filtering waste and help diagnose the stage of kidney disease. An eGFR of 100 or more (depending on a patient’s age) is considered to be about 100 percent of the expected function of healthy kidneys.

 

Stage 1 (eGFR = 90+)

First Signs of Kidney Damage

Kidneys are functioning well, but signs of initial damage are typically indicated by a protein called albumin³ detected in urine (albuminuria). 

Stage 2 (eGFR = 60-89)

Slightly Reduced Kidney Function

Mild loss of kidney function is evident and albuminuria or other signs of kidney damage are also present.

Stage 3a (eGFR = 45-59) and 3b (eGFR = 30-44)

Severely Reduced Kidney Function

Visible signs and symptoms, such as swelling, fatigue, reduced appetite, and other complications can occur in some patients, who must prepare for potential end-stage renal failure and dialysis.

Stage 4 (eGFR = 15-29)

Severely Reduced Kidney Function

Visible signs and symptoms, such as swelling, fatigue, reduced appetite, and other complications can occur in some patients, who must prepare for potential end-stage renal failure and dialysis.

Stage 5 (eGFR = <15)

Complete or Near-Complete Kidney Failure

Dialysis or a kidney transplant is required at this very serious stage

Supporting your CKD Patients

Early Detection and Diagnosis for Improved Health

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,4 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

Kidney Profile

Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio+eGFR 

View Test

Kidney Profile + BMP

Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio+eGFR + Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)

View Test

Kidney Profile + CMP

Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio+eGFR + Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

View Test

Cardiorenal-Glycemic Status

Lipid Profile with non-HDL Cholesterol+ Hemoglobin A1c + Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio+eGFR

View Test

Kidney Health Test Package

Available for sample collection at any Labcorp location

 

View Test

Patient screening requires serum (preferred) or plasma as well as urine samples; results are typically delivered within one day.

How Labcorp Can Help

Our specialists at Labcorp are sharing research results and working to increase awareness about chronic kidney disease through a strategic alliance with the National Kidney Foundation. We can help deliver answers for clinicians and their patients to enable better care.

CKD Resources from Labcorp

Understanding CKD Risk Factors

Diabetes is cited as the primary causative factor accounting for increased end-stage kidney disease.5

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.6-7

Currently, less than 50% of people with diabetes receive both tests for eGFR and uACR annually.8 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. 
 

Learn if you are at risk for chronic kidney disease, and how to test and monitor your kidney health.

CKD describes the gradual loss of function in your kidneys,9 which play an important role in filtering your blood and removing waste products.
If your kidneys are damaged or have reduced function, waste products build up in your body, but the early stages of CKD often have very few symptoms
before irreversible damage occurs in the later stages of CKD. 

Fortunately, a simple blood and urine test can help assess the health of your kidneys. The earlier you know, the earlier your doctor can help
manage your disease and monitor your health. 

Two women sitting against the wall after a hard workout

1. Know your kidney facts

The basics

You have two kidneys that work to filter your blood and remove waste products.

Kidney damage

If your kidneys are damaged or have reduced function, waste products build up in your body.

CKD: silent symptoms

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can progress silently without many signs or symptoms, causing irreversible damage.

96% of people living with kidney damage or mildly reduced kidney function are not aware they have CKD.⁹

2. Recognize the risk factors

Leading risk factors

  • Diabetes
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Heart Disease
  • Family history of diabetes or kidney disease

Additional risk factors

  • Age over 60
  • Race/ethnicity
  • History of smoking
  • Obesity

1 in 3 adults living in the U.S. with diabetes may have chronic kidney disease.¹⁰

3. Take action to care for your kidneys

Test for kidney health with a blood and urine test

  • A blood test estimates kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate)
  • A urine test detects or monitors potential kidney damage (Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR))

Yearly follow up

Health organizations recommend that you should be screened for CKD at least once a year if you have any risk factors.¹¹

4. Review your test results

Two simple tests

Blood test: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)

Urine test: Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR)

Early-stage CKD

In early-stage CKD, your care will focus on understanding the cause, slowing progression and addressing any complications.¹²

Late-stage CKD

In late-stage CKD, your kidneys are at risk of failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.¹³

5. Talk to your provider

If you have been diagnosed with CKD, discuss a plan with your provider. Ask how they can help you:

  • Monitor your test results over time
  • Manage your symptoms
  • Reduce complications
  • Slow or stop disease progression

Testing for CKD: Get a Clear Picture of Your Kidney Health

Health organizations recommend that you should be tested for CKD at least once a year if you have any risk factors or are experiencing some of the symptoms. Testing for CKD is straightforward, requiring only a blood draw and sample of your urine. Testing can be done at your doctor’s office or at one of nearly 2,000 convenient Labcorp locations with the Kidney Health Test Package. Results are returned in a few days for your doctor to discuss the findings and create a treatment plan for you, as needed. 

What type of test tells me if I have CKD?

Health organizations recommend at-risk patients, such as those with diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or who have a family history of kidney disease, should be screened at least annually for CKD.

It is recommended that at-risk patients have both of the following screening tests done:

  1. A urine test, known as the albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR), to detect or monitor potential kidney damage
  2. A blood test, known as the eGFR, to estimate kidney function

Talk to your doctor about your CKD risk and ask for uACR and eGFR testing.

What is uACR?

Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) is another important measurement that can provide early detection of kidney damage and also help monitor responses to treatments. Albumin is a protein that is normally found in the blood, but if the kidneys are damaged, albumin can leak into the urine. Creatinine is a normal waste product that the kidneys pass into urine.12 A laboratory test of urine measures the amount of albumin and compares it to the amount of creatinine detected to calculate your uACR.

What is eGFR?

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a calculation of how well your kidneys are functioning using results from your blood test. eGFR accounts for other factors such as your age and gender to help your doctor understand your risk or stage of kidney disease.

We have recently implemented a new race-free eGFR equation, as recommended by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and the America Society of Nephrology.13

This equation may result in higher or lower eGFR values for some patients. See how your eGFR result may have changed with the NKF’s eGFR calculator.

Support & Resources for Living with CKD

If you have been diagnosed with CKD, there is no cure, but your doctor can help you manage your symptoms, reduce the likelihood of complications and slow or stop the progression of the disease. Controlling your blood pressure is important, as well as exercising and following a kidney-healthy diet. Talk to your doctor about the best ways you can care for your kidneys. 

You may also want to explore other CKD resources online:

Healthy Kidneys are Happy Kidneys

Infographic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

NKF Patient Network

Join the first nationwide registry for people at all stages of kidney disease to transform kidney care and research together.

Kidney Pathway

Get information about your kidney health with a few questions. 

eGFR Resources:

NKF’s eGFR calculator

Compare how your eGFR may have changed due to the new race-free equation.

Patient Q&A

Learn more about the race-free eGFR equation.

References

  1. Chronic kidney disease. The Mayo Clinic. Accessed July 30, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521 
  2. Chronic kidney disease overview. The Mayo Clinic. Accessed July 30, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521 
  3. National Chronic Kidney Disease Fact Sheet, 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed July 30, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/kidney_factsheet.pdf 
  4. Davis CP, Shiel Jr. WC. Creatinine Blood Test (Normal, Low, High Levels). MedicineNet website. Accessed August 2, 2021. https://www.medicinenet.com/creatinine_blood_test/article.htm 
  5. Miller WG, Kaufman HW, Levey AS, et al. National Kidney Foundation Laboratory Engagement Working Group Recommendations for Implementing the CKD-EPI 2021 Race-Free Equations for Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate: Practical Guidance for Clinical Laboratories. Clin Chem. 2021 Dec 16;hvab278

Watch our CKD Webinars

 

4 out of 5 adults at risk for developing chronic kidney disease aren’t being fully tested.

Explore the findings from our Diabetes Care study and discuss the importance of early detection for chronic kidney disease patients. Plus, learn the latest on HEDIS measures and insights into task force recommendations on reassessing the inclusion of race in diagnosing CKD—in particular, the impact to eGFR. Hear the discussion with Labcorp and the National Kidney Foundation.

View our webinar on CKD and associated cardiovascular events.

1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is at risk for kidney disease. The most common risk factors include:¹⁴

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Family history of diabetes or kidney disease

Silent symptoms are common with early kidney disease and many people don’t even know they have it. Testing can help identify CKD early and prevent additional health problems. Gain insight into new strategies, tools and available resources available to help you manage patients at risk for CKD and potential associated cardiovascular events. 

References 

  1. What are the Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease? National Kidney Foundation. Accessed July 30, 2021. https://www.kidney.org/blog/kidney-cars/what-are-stages-chronic-kidney-disease
  2. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR). National Kidney Foundation. Accessed July 30, 2021. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr 
  3. Albuminuria. National Kidney Foundation Accessed July 30, 2021. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/albuminuria 
  4. 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
  5. 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. 
  6. 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
  7. 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  
  8. 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 
  9. Chronic kidney disease. The Mayo Clinic. Accessed July 30, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521 
  10. Chronic kidney disease overview. The Mayo Clinic. Accessed July 30, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521 
  11. National Chronic Kidney Disease Fact Sheet, 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed July 30, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/kidney_factsheet.pdf 
  12. Davis CP, Shiel Jr. WC. Creatinine Blood Test (Normal, Low, High Levels). MedicineNet website. Accessed August 2, 2021. https://www.medicinenet.com/creatinine_blood_test/article.htm 
  13. Miller WG, Kaufman HW, Levey AS, et al. National Kidney Foundation Laboratory Engagement Working Group Recommendations for Implementing the CKD-EPI 2021 Race-Free Equations for Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate: Practical Guidance for Clinical Laboratories. Clin Chem. 2021 Dec 16;hvab278
  14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Chronic kidney disease in the United States, 2021. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/publications-resources/ckd-national-facts.html