Creatinine Test, Serum

The following conditions may necessitate a creatinine test:

• If you have any kidney disease symptoms or indicators
• In case of diabetes or high blood pressure
• You should get screened for any other illnesses that raise the risk of kidney disease.
• to track the course or therapy of kidney illness
• to keep an eye out for drug side effects that could affect kidney function or cause kidney damage
• to keep an eye on a transplanted kidney's performance

The Creatinine Blood Test is a simple procedure that uses a minimal amount of blood. The process to withdraw a blood sample for a Serum Creatinine Test:

• The inside of the arm is where the blood sample is taken from. 
• The site is cleaned with an antiseptic.  
• To make it simple to locate a vein, a band would be tied around your arm to cause the veins to expand with blood.
• To take blood, a needle is placed into a vein at a pre-sterilized location on the inside of the arm. 
• The test is not painful; however, you may feel a slight prick when the needle is inserted. 
• The medical professional covers the area where the blood was extracted with a bandage after removing the needle and taking the blood sample.

Results below the expected range may indicate impaired kidney function or diseases that reduce blood flow to the kidneys. 

Low creatinine levels may occur due to muscular disorders (loss of muscle bulk), excessive fluid loss and certain medications. Lower levels may be due to:

• Conditions leading to decreased muscle mass
• Malnutrition

If your creatinine levels are high, your kidneys may not function properly. An underlying medical issue is indicated if the blood or urine creatinine levels are high. Temporarily high levels may also occur due to exercises, side effects of medications, certain diets and pregnancy.

Higher levels may be due to:

• Blockage in the urinary tract
• Kidney problems, like kidney damage, failure, or infection
• Dehydration
• Breakdown of muscle fibres
• Complications during pregnancy, such as seizures caused by eclampsia or high blood pressure caused by pre-eclampsia

Although there is little risk involved in this blood test, veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another which may lead to bleeding, feeling lightheaded, requiring multiple punctures for locating veins, or hematoma.

The results of the Serum Creatinine Test determine the glomerular filtration rate or GRF. It is the plasma volume that is filtered by the glomerulus in one second. It is used to check if the kidneys are functioning properly or not.

You should inform your doctor about any medicines you are currently taking, both prescription and over-the-counter. You must also inform if you have had any drug allergies. Some drugs, like cimetidine, chemotherapy drugs, and cephalosporin antibiotics, may increase the levels of creatinine. This may impact your test results. Your doctor may consider this when interpreting your lab test results. So it is important to discuss this in detail with your doctor.

Kidney functions tests, Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test, basic metabolic panel (BMP) or comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) are linked to creatinine test.

There are no specific preparations required for the Creatinine Test. However, it is recommended that you consult with your healthcare provider before taking the test, as they may have specific instructions or recommendations based on your individual medical history and current health status.

Women are often known to have lower creatinine levels than men. This is because women often have fewer muscles. Creatinine level also varies based on the size and muscle mass of an individual.

In general, the normal range of creatinine,

• For adult men is 0.74 to 1.35 mg/dL
• For adult women is 0.59 to 1.04 mg/dL

If you exhibit symptoms of renal illness, your doctor can request a Creatinine Blood Test to evaluate your creatinine levels. These signs consist of:

• exhaustion and difficulty sleeping
• a decrease in appetite
• swelling of face, wrists, ankles or abdomen 
• an ache in the lower back near the kidneys
• variations in urine frequency and output
• blood pressure is high
• nausea/vomiting

A Serum Creatinine Test measures the amount of creatinine in your blood and can help your doctor assess how well your kidneys are working.