Creatinine Clearance (from Serum)

This test gives your care team important information about how your body is working, helping to identify potential health concerns early and guide the right decisions about your ongoing care and treatment.

Creatinine clearance helps doctors check if your kidneys are working properly. It’s especially useful for monitoring kidney disease, fluid balance, or after treatments that may affect kidney function.

During this test, a sample or measurement is collected and analyzed using specialized equipment, and your doctor then reviews the values to understand what they mean for your overall health.

Your doctor will collect a blood sample (serum) and a urine sample. Creatinine levels in both are measured to calculate how quickly waste is filtered from your blood.

Before your appointment, your care team will explain any preparation steps you need to follow, such as fasting, adjusting certain medications, or drinking water, so be sure to ask questions if anything is unclear.

No special preparation is needed, but drink plenty of water the day before to ensure clear urine. Avoid excessive alcohol or certain medications that may affect kidney function.

Your results may come back normal, borderline, or abnormal, and your doctor will explain what they mean, order additional testing if needed, or recommend a treatment plan based on the findings.

Results are compared to your body size and overall health. Low clearance may indicate kidney problems, while high levels could suggest dehydration or overhydration. Your doctor will discuss findings with you.