24-Hour Urine Test
500 Kshs | Home Collection Available
Synonyms
urine creatinine, 24 hours
Purpose
The Urine Creatinine Test measures how much creatinine you excrete in your urine and helps evaluate your kidney function. Your muscles produce creatinine as a waste product, and your kidneys filter it from your blood into the urine. Monitoring its levels in urine helps assess how well the kidneys are filtering and excreting waste.
This test plays a crucial role in detecting and monitoring kidney diseases, assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) when used in conjunction with blood creatinine, and evaluating creatinine clearance.
For a full diagnostic picture, the test can be done alongside Serum Creatinine Test, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), Urinalysis, Urine Protein or Albumin Test, and Electrolyte Panel.
Patient Preparation
No special preparation is required.
Samples
0.5 ml aliquot of Urine (24-hour) collected in a plastic urine container, with or without 6N HCL. Collect all urine, including the final specimen at the end of the 24-hour collection period, mix, and secure the lid. Label the container with the patient’s details (name, date of collection time). Store the sample at room temperature.
Reference Range
Male 1.0-2.0g/24hrs, female 0.8-1.6g/24hrs
Results Turnaround
Within 24 hours of sample receipt.
Diseases / Diagnostic indicators
The Urine Creatinine Test provides valuable insight into how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the body. It is primarily used to assess renal function, and the results can indicate a range of potential conditions:
Normal Creatinine Levels
- Suggest that the kidneys are functioning properly and are effectively filtering and excreting waste.
Low Levels May Indicate:
- Kidney dysfunction or impaired filtration
- Reduced muscle mass
- Chronic kidney disease
- Incomplete urine collection
High Levels May Indicate
- High muscle mass or muscle breakdown
- High-protein diet
- Dehydration (concentrated urine)
- Certain medications
These outcomes should always be interpreted in context with blood creatinine levels, estimated GFR, and other renal function tests for an accurate diagnosis. For more on the 24-Hour Urine Test, read this study.