Blood WorkA kidney function test for chronic kidney disease has two parts: a blood test for creatinine, which gives your eGFR (how well your kidneys filter), and a urine test for albumin, the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), which shows damage. Guidelines use both because either one can be abnormal first. At Passion Health, the $69 Diabetes & Kidney Panel includes both, plus A1c and cholesterol, with results in 1 to 3 business days and a clinician's review.
What to know about kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means your kidneys are damaged or filtering less well, and it has lasted more than three months. It's common: the CDC estimates that more than 1 in 7 US adults have it, and as many as 9 in 10 of them don't know.
Early kidney disease has no symptoms. Swelling, tiredness, itching or changes in how often you pee usually appear only after a lot of function is gone, which is why kidney disease is found with tests, not symptoms. Diabetes and high blood pressure cause most kidney disease in the US.
Who should get a kidney function test?
Get tested if any of these apply to you:
- Diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends checking eGFR and urine albumin at least once a year: from diagnosis with type 2 diabetes, and after five years with type 1.
- High blood pressure, heart disease or heart failure.
- A parent, brother or sister with kidney disease or kidney failure.
- Obesity, or a past episode of kidney injury.
- Daily use of medicines that can strain the kidneys, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
If none of these apply, there isn't strong evidence for routine kidney screening. The eGFR that comes with any metabolic panel, including our $59 Essential Blood Work, gives you a baseline.
Which tests check for kidney disease?
| Test | What it shows | Where it's included |
|---|---|---|
| eGFR, from blood creatinine | How well your kidneys filter, calculated with the 2021 CKD-EPI equation, which doesn't use race. Below 60 for more than three months means chronic kidney disease. | Essential $59, Diabetes & Kidney $69, Full Blood Work $149. Metabolic panel alone $20. |
| Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) | Whether protein is leaking into your urine, often the earliest sign of damage, even while eGFR is normal. 30 mg/g or higher for more than three months means chronic kidney disease. | Diabetes & Kidney $69. Alone $30. |
| BUN, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate, calcium | Waste and mineral balance. Potassium matters most if you take blood pressure medicines. | Same metabolic panel. |
| A1c and cholesterol | Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease, and kidney disease raises heart risk, so both shape your plan. | Diabetes & Kidney $69. |
Why blood and urine? Either test can be abnormal first. Checking only eGFR misses people whose kidneys still filter normally but already leak protein, and that's the stage when treatment can slow kidney disease down.
If your eGFR may be misleading, for example if you're very muscular or have lost a lot of muscle, your clinician may add a second blood test, cystatin C, to confirm it, as KDIGO recommends.
What your kidney results mean
| eGFR | Stage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 90 or higher | G1 | Normal filtering. Kidney disease only if albumin or another sign of damage is present. |
| 60 to 89 | G2 | Mildly reduced, common with age. Kidney disease only if albumin or another sign of damage is present. |
| 45 to 59 | G3a | Mildly to moderately reduced. |
| 30 to 44 | G3b | Moderately to severely reduced. |
| 15 to 29 | G4 | Severely reduced. |
| Below 15 | G5 | Kidney failure. |
| Urine albumin (UACR) | Category | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 mg/g | A1 | Normal to mildly increased. |
| 30 to 300 mg/g | A2 | Moderately increased. |
| Over 300 mg/g | A3 | Severely increased. |
One result isn't a diagnosis. Kidney disease means the change lasts more than three months, so we repeat abnormal tests to confirm. A hard workout, a fever or infection, a urinary tract infection, a period or very high blood sugar can raise urine albumin for a day or two; dehydration, a big meat meal, creatine supplements and high muscle mass can raise creatinine and lower eGFR. Your stage by both eGFR and albumin sets how closely we follow you.
What a kidney test can't tell you
These tests show that something is wrong, not why. Your clinician looks for the cause: diabetes, blood pressure, medicines, an inherited condition or kidney inflammation. They don't find kidney stones, which need imaging (see kidney stones), and a single normal eGFR doesn't rule out early damage, which is what the urine test is for.
If your kidney results are off at Passion Health
A Texas-licensed clinician reviews every result and calls you the same day about anything critical. If your eGFR is low or your urine albumin is high, we:
- repeat the test in about three months to confirm it, or within days if your eGFR has dropped suddenly;
- look for the cause and review your medicines, including over-the-counter pain relievers;
- treat what drives kidney disease, such as blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, using medicines shown to slow kidney disease (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, SGLT2 inhibitors) when they fit;
- refer you to a kidney specialist (nephrologist) when guidelines call for it, for example an eGFR below 30 or very high urine albumin.
Go over your results in a 20-minute video visit ($60), or get ongoing care online for type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.
Kidney test cost in Texas
Self-pay. The Diabetes & Kidney Panel is $69 and includes eGFR, urine albumin, A1c, a cholesterol panel and the metabolic panel (21 results), with the draw and a clinician's review. The two kidney tests on their own come to $79 ($20 metabolic panel, $30 urine albumin and the $29 draw and review fee), so the panel costs less and adds A1c and cholesterol. Essential Blood Work ($59) includes eGFR but not the urine test.
With insurance. If we're in network with your plan, we bill it when the test is covered. You pay cash for a test only after we tell you the price in writing, and Medicare patients sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice first.
Kidney function test questions
What is a kidney function test?
A kidney function test checks how well your kidneys filter and whether they're damaged. It usually means eGFR, calculated from a blood creatinine test, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Together they're how chronic kidney disease is found and staged.
What is the best test for kidney function?
Two tests together: eGFR, from a blood creatinine test, shows how well your kidneys filter, and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio shows damage. Guidelines from KDIGO and the American Diabetes Association use both.
Can a blood test detect kidney disease?
A blood test finds reduced filtering, a low eGFR. Early damage often shows up first as albumin in the urine, so a kidney check should include a urine sample too.
Do I need to fast for a kidney test?
The kidney tests themselves don't need fasting. The Diabetes & Kidney Panel also checks fasting glucose and cholesterol, so fast for 8 to 12 hours before your draw; water is fine, and take your usual medicines. Skip hard exercise the day before, since it can raise urine albumin.
How often should kidney function be checked?
At least once a year if you have diabetes, and usually yearly with high blood pressure. If your results are abnormal, your clinician sets a schedule by your stage, usually one to four times a year.
What eGFR level is concerning?
An eGFR below 60 for more than three months means chronic kidney disease. Below 30 is severely reduced, and below 15 is kidney failure. eGFR drifts down slowly with age, so your clinician reads it with your age and urine albumin.
Can I get my kidneys checked without insurance in Texas?
Yes. Order the $69 Diabetes & Kidney Panel, then walk in to any of 140+ CPL locations or a Passion Health clinic with a photo ID. No appointment is needed, and a clinician reviews every result.
Sources
- KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease
- American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 11: Chronic Kidney Disease and Risk Management
- CDC: Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2023
- NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease Tests and Diagnosis