Key Biomarkers Doctors Evaluate

When you sit down for your annual checkup, your primary care provider relies on precise laboratory biomarkers rather than self-reported symptoms to judge your renal wellness. The two foundational diagnostic measurements recommended by the National Kidney Foundation are estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio.

Your estimated glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR, measures how many milliliters of blood your kidneys filter each minute. An eGFR result below 60 mL/min/1.73 m² persisting for at least 90 days indicates chronic kidney disease. Complementing this blood test, the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, or uACR, evaluates whether microscopic filter membranes allow blood protein to leak into your urine. A uACR measurement of 30 mg/g or higher indicates persistent kidney damage, often serving as the earliest detectable warning sign of vascular distress within the kidneys.