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Renal Profile - P00028

The two kidneys in our body function to filter our blood and rid our body of impurities, and it is during this process of filtration that urine is produced. The renal profile is a test which is designed to assess the functioning of the kidneys. It helps doctors understand how much of toxic substances are being filtered from or retained in the body.

The renal profile is a test which your doctor uses to assess your kidney function and determine how well the filtration system in your body is working. It gives an idea about protein leaking from your body, as well as retention of toxic substances within the body. This test includes the levels of Urea, Creatinine, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Phosphorous and Uric Acid.

Your doctor will order a renal profile test if you complain of symptoms such as pain while passing urine, loin pain or passage of too little urine. If you are a patient with long standing diabetes or you have been started on certain medication which can be nephrotoxic, then this test might be ordered as part of your routine monitoring.

A renal profile requires that you fast (that is not eat or drink anything, except water) for a period of 8-10 hours before you undergo this test.

During this, a Medical Lab Technician will draw out a small volume of blood, using a needle and syringe which is inserted into a vein in your arm. This blood sample is then sent to the lab for analysis.

Since this test is a simple drawing of blood, you will not feel a lot of discomfort. You might experience a mild pain on inserting the needle, but you will not experience any uneasiness afterwards.

There is very little risk in undergoing a renal profile test, because it is a simple blood drawing. Very rarely you might continue to have a mild pain or some swelling at the site where the needle was inserted, but these symptoms will resolve on their own within a couple of days.

Since the liver profile gives you a measure of various substances in the body, each of the levels have to be evaluated carefully. Your target values should be as follows:
• Urea – 10 to 14 mg/dL
• Creatinine – 0.6 to 1 mg/dL
• Sodium – 136 to 145 mmol/L
• Potassium – 3.5 to 5.1 mmol/L
• Chloride – 98 to 107 mmol/L
• Phosphorous – 2.8 to 4.5 mg/dL
• Uric Acid – 2.4 to 6 mg/dL

If your results are showing values lower than or higher than the above, you have to seek medical advice immediately.

Certain food and medication that you consume can play a role in altering the levels of these substances, therefore you must always have a discussion with your doctor regarding this.