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Kidney Test: eGFR
Kidney disease often has no signs. The only way to know how well your kidneys are working is to
check them. One way to do this is the eGFR test.
What is eGFR?
Your kidneys filter your blood. They remove wastes and water and make urine. Your doctor can
check how healthy your kidneys are. He or she will do a blood test that measures how much blood
they are filtering. This test is called the eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate).
How can I get my eGFR?
Your doctor will test your blood for creatinine. Creatinine is a waste that comes from your
muscles. Your doctor will use your creatinine result, your age, your sex and your race to figure
out your eGFR. Your creatinine may vary from day to day. For the best results, you might need
your eGFR tested again in a few months.
Is there anyone that this test won’t work for?
Yes. This test is very good, but it is not for everyone. This test is NOT for you if you are:
▪ Younger than 18
▪ Older than 70
▪ Pregnant
▪ Very overweight
▪ Very muscular
▪ Have another serious illness
If any of these describe you, talk to your doctor about other tests.
What does my eGFR mean?
Use the chart below to see what your eGFR may mean.
eGFR Result What It May Mean
60 or More See Below*
30 to 59 Moderate Kidney Damage
15 to 29 Severe Kidney Damage
Less than 15 Kidney Failure
(Dialysis or transplant may be needed soon.)
Based on the National Kidney Disease Education Program’s Suggestions for Laboratories, available
at www.nkdep.nih.gov/resources/laboratory_reporting.htm.
*If your eGFR was 60 or MORE…
Your doctor will look for other signs to make sure you don’t have early kidney disease. Your
doctor may also look at:
▪ Your urine (for blood or protein)
▪ Your blood (for wastes and toxins)
▪ Your blood pressure
▪ Your health history
▪ Your family’s health history
Help protect your kidneys by eating healthy, staying active and seeing your doctor regularly.
If your eGFR was LESS than 60…
Talk to your doctor soon. If this was your first eGFR test, talk to your doctor about when you
should be tested again. Your doctor will watch to see if your eGFR is less than 60 for 3 months or
more.
If your doctor tells you that you have chronic kidney disease you should:
▪ Control any diabetes
▪ Control any high blood pressure
▪ Control cholesterol
▪ Treat any health problems caused by kidney disease, like bone disease and anemia (not enough
red blood cells)
▪ Don’t use tobacco
▪ Exercise most days of the week
▪ Talk to your doctor about your diet and medicines
▪ Order our brochure “Living Well with Chronic Kidney Disease”
If you are African American…
Your eGFR is calculated a little differently. This is because African Americans have more muscle
mass than other groups.
Some doctors and labs do not use your race when finding your eGFR. Ask your doctor or lab if
they used your race when they did your eGFR. If they did not, you will need to multiply your eGFR
result by 1.2.
Example:
▪ Norma is a 58 year-old African American woman.
▪ Her doctor tells her that the lab did not use her race for her eGFR.
▪ Her lab results showed that her eGFR was 50.
▪ Norma uses a calculator to multiply the eGFR from her lab results by 1.2.
50 x 1.2 = 60
60 is Norma’s correct eGFR.
At her next visit, Norma will ask her doctor when she should be tested again.
American Kidney Fund • 6110 Executive Blvd. Suite 1010 • Rockville, MD 20852
Toll-free: (800) 638-8299 or email: helpline@kidneyfund.org
Kidney disease often has no signs. The only way to know how well your kidneys are working is to
check them. One way to do this is the eGFR test.
What is eGFR?
Your kidneys filter your blood. They remove wastes and water and make urine. Your doctor can
check how healthy your kidneys are. He or she will do a blood test that measures how much blood
they are filtering. This test is called the eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate).
How can I get my eGFR?
Your doctor will test your blood for creatinine. Creatinine is a waste that comes from your
muscles. Your doctor will use your creatinine result, your age, your sex and your race to figure
out your eGFR. Your creatinine may vary from day to day. For the best results, you might need
your eGFR tested again in a few months.
Is there anyone that this test won’t work for?
Yes. This test is very good, but it is not for everyone. This test is NOT for you if you are:
▪ Younger than 18
▪ Older than 70
▪ Pregnant
▪ Very overweight
▪ Very muscular
▪ Have another serious illness
If any of these describe you, talk to your doctor about other tests.
What does my eGFR mean?
Use the chart below to see what your eGFR may mean.
eGFR Result What It May Mean
60 or More See Below*
30 to 59 Moderate Kidney Damage
15 to 29 Severe Kidney Damage
Less than 15 Kidney Failure
(Dialysis or transplant may be needed soon.)
Based on the National Kidney Disease Education Program’s Suggestions for Laboratories, available
at www.nkdep.nih.gov/resources/laboratory_reporting.htm.
*If your eGFR was 60 or MORE…
Your doctor will look for other signs to make sure you don’t have early kidney disease. Your
doctor may also look at:
▪ Your urine (for blood or protein)
▪ Your blood (for wastes and toxins)
▪ Your blood pressure
▪ Your health history
▪ Your family’s health history
Help protect your kidneys by eating healthy, staying active and seeing your doctor regularly.
If your eGFR was LESS than 60…
Talk to your doctor soon. If this was your first eGFR test, talk to your doctor about when you
should be tested again. Your doctor will watch to see if your eGFR is less than 60 for 3 months or
more.
If your doctor tells you that you have chronic kidney disease you should:
▪ Control any diabetes
▪ Control any high blood pressure
▪ Control cholesterol
▪ Treat any health problems caused by kidney disease, like bone disease and anemia (not enough
red blood cells)
▪ Don’t use tobacco
▪ Exercise most days of the week
▪ Talk to your doctor about your diet and medicines
▪ Order our brochure “Living Well with Chronic Kidney Disease”
If you are African American…
Your eGFR is calculated a little differently. This is because African Americans have more muscle
mass than other groups.
Some doctors and labs do not use your race when finding your eGFR. Ask your doctor or lab if
they used your race when they did your eGFR. If they did not, you will need to multiply your eGFR
result by 1.2.
Example:
▪ Norma is a 58 year-old African American woman.
▪ Her doctor tells her that the lab did not use her race for her eGFR.
▪ Her lab results showed that her eGFR was 50.
▪ Norma uses a calculator to multiply the eGFR from her lab results by 1.2.
50 x 1.2 = 60
60 is Norma’s correct eGFR.
At her next visit, Norma will ask her doctor when she should be tested again.
American Kidney Fund • 6110 Executive Blvd. Suite 1010 • Rockville, MD 20852
Toll-free: (800) 638-8299 or email: helpline@kidneyfund.org