Kidney function tests check how well your kidneys are filtering waste from the blood, mainly using creatinine and eGFR.
Why this test is done
- Check how well the kidneys are working
- Routine monitoring in diabetes and high blood pressure, the two commonest causes of kidney damage
- Check kidney function before starting or continuing certain medicines
- Investigate swelling, reduced urine output or unexplained tiredness
How to prepare
- Fasting is usually not required, but follow your laboratory's instruction
- Avoid heavy exercise and large amounts of meat the day before, as both can raise creatinine
- Tell your doctor about all medicines and supplements you take
Understanding your results
- Creatinine is a waste product; a rising level suggests the kidneys are filtering less effectively
- eGFR estimates the filtration rate — the higher the number, the better the kidney function
- A single mildly abnormal result does not by itself mean kidney disease; it is usually repeated and interpreted alongside urine tests
- Normal creatinine ranges differ between men and women, and vary with muscle mass
Read your report with your doctor
Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and a value slightly outside the range is often normal for you. What matters is the pattern across your results, your symptoms and your history — which is why the report belongs in a consultation, not a search box.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does high creatinine mean?
It usually suggests the kidneys are not filtering as well as they should, but it can also rise from dehydration, heavy exercise, a high-protein meal or certain medicines. Doctors repeat the test and look at eGFR and urine results before concluding anything.
Do I need to fast for a kidney function test?
Fasting is usually not required, but follow your own laboratory's instruction. It is worth avoiding heavy exercise and large amounts of meat the day before, as both can push creatinine up temporarily.
What is eGFR on a kidney report?
eGFR is an estimate of how fast your kidneys are filtering, worked out from your creatinine along with your age and sex. It is easier to interpret than creatinine alone, which is why doctors look at the two together.
What do KFT, RFT and E/U/Cr mean on a lab form?
They are different labels for much the same panel. KFT is kidney function test, RFT is renal function test, and E/U/Cr stands for electrolytes, urea and creatinine — the three things most often measured. Which name your laboratory uses does not change what is being checked.
What this costs, and what is free
Routine blood tests are generally free at government hospitals and health and wellness centres when ordered there.
Private lab prices for the same test vary widely between cities and between labs in the same city. It is worth asking the price before agreeing, and worth asking your doctor which tests are genuinely needed rather than accepting a bundled package.
Source: Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, National Health Authority
Prices and scheme rules change. Confirm current details with the hospital or Kendra before you rely on them.