24-Hour Urinary Creatinine Clearance

What Does This Test Measure?

Your urine is collected over 24 hours to measure the amount of creatinine, a waste product naturally produced by your muscles. Creatinine clearance helps doctors evaluate how well your kidneys are filtering blood and removing waste, which is important for detecting early kidney problems or monitoring kidney health in chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.

Why Might Your Doctor Order This Test?

A 24-hour urine creatinine clearance test may be recommended if you have symptoms of kidney disease (such as swelling, fatigue, or frequent urination), if you have a chronic condition that affects kidney function, or if your doctor wants to monitor kidney health before or after treatments like certain medications or surgeries.

How Is This Test Performed?

You’ll need to collect all urine produced in a 24-hour period in a special container. Your doctor or nurse will provide instructions on timing and storage. The urine sample is then sent to a lab for analysis.

What Are the Results Typically Used For?

The results help determine your glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a measure of kidney function. Low clearance may indicate kidney damage or disease, while normal results suggest healthy kidney function.