Clinical Laboratories’ Role in Informing Kidney Health
During March’s National Kidney Month, ACLA is highlighting the essential role that clinical laboratories serve in the diagnosis and management of kidney health. In the United States, diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of kidney failure, accounting for three out of four new cases.[1] Also, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading cause of death in the United States. Experts have noted that with appropriate kidney screening, patients at high risk for CKD have seen a 34 percent reduction in risk of death and an 80 percent reduction in their risk of end-stage renal disease.[2]
The kidneys have a number of functions, including filtering waste from blood. When kidney function declines, waste builds up, leading to an array of potential complications. Fortunately, routinely performed clinical laboratory tests can help determine if kidneys are functioning normally. For example:
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine A levels, measured from a comprehensive metabolic panel blood test, can be indicators for early signs of kidney disease.
- Cystatin C (sCysC) tests have improved the accuracy of risk categorization for patients who may develop CKD or reduced kidney function in the future.[3] These same tests can also help predict with high accuracy the likelihood of at-risk patients developing acute kidney complications after COVID-19 infections.[4]
- Innovative diagnostic laboratory tests can help kidney transplant patients avoid unnecessary biopsies or identify potential transplant rejection prior to symptoms.
ACLA and its members will continue to collaborate with providers, policymakers, patient advocates, and public health leaders to demonstrate the value of clinical laboratory testing and champion diagnostic innovations that promote kidney health and reduce the impact of CKD.
For more information about kidney disease, visit https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/basics.html
[1] Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/basics.html
[2] Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/basics.html
[3] Shlipak, M. G., Matsushita, K., Ärnlöv, J., Inker, L. A., Katz, R., Polkinghorne, K. R., … & Gansevoort, R. T. (2013). Cystatin C versus creatinine in determining risk based on kidney function. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(10), 932-943.
[4] Shlipak, M. G., Matsushita, K., Ärnlöv, J., Inker, L. A., Katz, R., Polkinghorne, K. R., … & Gansevoort, R. T. (2013). Cystatin C versus creatinine in determining risk based on kidney function. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(10), 932-943.
