Renal Function Testing

● Patients with kidney disease have few signs and symptoms early in disease course; laboratory evaluation may be only way of detecting disease ● Tests should detect abnormalities early enough to allow corrective therapy ● Important for measuring renal disease progression and efficacy of therapies ● Help predict when renal replacement therapy may be necessary ● Aid in appropriate dosing of medications ● Tests that best detect abnormalities of renal function measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR)