One important calculation your doctor will perform is to determine your estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR. Your glomerular filtration rate is a measurement of how well your kidneys are working to clean your blood. Your doctor will calculate your eGFR using your serum creatinine blood test results and factoring in your age, weight, body size, ethnicity and gender. If you are diagnosed with CKD, your eGFR indicates which of the 5 stages of CKD you’re in. You can use our on line GFR calculator to calculate your eGFR, once you have the serum creatinine blood test results from your doctor.
Your doctor may want to compare your creatinine levels over time because there are many factors that can affect results in the short term. A long-term view of creatinine levels can offer a more accurate measurement of overall kidney function.