Serum or Plasma Creatinine Concentration (Substance Concentration)
This test measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle metabolism, in your blood or plasma. It helps assess how well your kidneys are filtering blood.
["Kidney function is evaluated by checking creatinine levels."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 105020-2
- Short code
- NDM19
- Synonyms
- blaNDM-19 Islt/Spm Ql
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Sterile, leak-proof container or appropriate transport medium (e.g., Copan ESwab, Amies or Stuart transport medium, or Cary-Blair medium)
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 0–120 years
- Method
- molgen
- CPT
- 87798
- SNOMED
- 415684004
- Specimen volume
- Minimum 0.5-1 mL of specimen or one swab in transport medium
- Stability
- Room temperature: 2 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 24-48 hours; Frozen (-70°C or below): longer-term storage for batch testing. Follow specific institutional and transport medium manufacturer guidelines.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
Why Is This Test Done?
Your healthcare provider may order this test to check for kidney disease, monitor kidney function over time, or evaluate symptoms like swelling, fatigue, or changes in urine output. It’s also used before certain surgeries or treatments that affect kidney health.
What to Expect Before the Test
No special preparation is usually needed, but you may be asked to fast for 8–12 hours before the test if it’s part of a broader kidney function panel. Drink plenty of water the day before to help dilute urine if a urine-based test is involved.
What Happens During the Test?
A blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm by a healthcare professional. If a urine sample is needed, you’ll collect a midstream urine specimen. The sample is sent to a lab for analysis.
What Are Possible Results?
Results are compared to a general reference range, which can vary by lab. High levels may suggest kidney problems, while very low levels could indicate muscle disorders or other conditions. Your provider will interpret results in the context of your overall health.
Reference range
Negative (blaNDM-19 gene not detected)N/A
No special patient preparation required prior to specimen collection. Specimen should ideally be collected prior to administration of antimicrobial therapy when clinically feasible.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings1
Short name
Creatinine Level
Frequently asked questions
What causes creatinine levels to be high?
What causes creatinine levels to be low?
Can diet affect creatinine levels?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy