Creatfldmcnc
A blood test that measures creatinine levels in your blood to evaluate how well your kidneys are functioning.
{"Creatinine is a waste product filtered from blood by kidneys","Elevated levels may indicate kidney dysfunction","Normal range varies by age, sex, and muscle mass","The test is part of routine kidney function assessment","Results are often combined with other tests like BUN"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 12190-5
- Short code
- CREAT-BF
- Synonyms
- Creat Fld-mCnc
- Category
- kidney
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Serum separator tube (SST) or plain red top tube
- Units
- not specified
- Ref low
- 0.6
- Ref high
- 1.2
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 0–120 years
- Method
- Jaffé kinetic method or enzymatic method
- CPT
- 82565
- SNOMED
- 271434004
- Specimen volume
- 1-2 mL of serum
- Stability
- Room temperature: 24 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days; Frozen (-20°C): 30 days
- Hemolysis max
- 50
- Lipemia max
- 300
- Icterus max
- 20
- TAT
- 2–24 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
The serum creatinine test measures the amount of creatinine in your blood. Creatinine is a waste product produced from the normal breakdown of muscle cells during daily activities. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine from the blood and excrete it in urine.
How is the test performed?
A healthcare provider will draw a small blood sample from a vein in your arm using a needle. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. No special preparation is typically needed, though your doctor may ask you to avoid certain foods or medications before the test.
What do the results mean?
Normal creatinine levels vary based on age, sex, and muscle mass. Generally, normal ranges are approximately 0.7-1.3 mg/dL for men and 0.6-1.1 mg/dL for women. Higher than normal levels may suggest kidney problems, while lower levels may indicate reduced muscle mass.
Are there any risks?
The risks are minimal and include minor bruising at the injection site, bleeding, or rare infection. This is a common and routine blood test with very low risk of complications.
Reference range
No established reference range (interpret relative to concurrent serum creatinine; typically similar to serum)not specified
No special preparation or fasting required
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings2
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before the test?
What can cause creatinine levels to be high?
Can exercise affect my creatinine levels?
How is eGFR different from creatinine?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 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 10, 2026. · Read our editorial policy