Creatinine Test: Purpose, Normal Range & Cost [2024]

• Purpose
• Price
• Preparation
• Result
• Sample Report

The creatinine test is a blood test that helps evaluate the Kidneys’ health and functioning. The serum creatinine test is also a common name for this test. The test cost ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 200 in India.

Creatinine is a waste product that is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys through urine. An abnormal level of creatinine indicates a problem in the kidneys. As a result, the creatinine level will increase in blood and decrease in urine. Thus, a creatinine test helps measure how well your kidneys perform their job filtering waste from your blood.

Test Details in Brief

Also Known As	Creatinine test, Serum creatinine test, creatinine blood test, urea creatinine test
Purpose	Kidney function, diabetes and general health checkup
Preparation	No special preparation is required
Fasting	No
Sample Type	Blood serum
Reporting Time	8 to 24 Hrs.
Cost	Rs. 100 to Rs. 200

Creatinine Test Price

It is an economical test and its cost usually range from Rs 100 to Rs 200. However, most often, doctors prefer kidney function tests (KFT) which include creatinine, urea and uric acid test. A KFT test cost Rs 400 to Rs 700.

Creatinine Test Meaning & Purpose

Creatinine test means measuring the creatinine level in blood or a urine sample. Creatinine is a waste from our body that is a product of filtration by the Kidney. Thus, the primary purpose of the test is the evaluation of kidney health. A doctor may recommend a it for the following reasons.

1. In case you exibit common symptoms of a high creatinine level such as
   • Swelling in body
   • Feeling of tiredness
   • Loss of appetite
   • Itching
   • Nausea
   • Change in frequency of urinating
2. Diagnose kidney disease for
   • Diabetic patient
   • High blood pressure
   • Other conditions that compromise the health of the kidney
3. Monitor the progress of medication for kidney disease
4. To track the functioning of a kidney after transplant
5. To look for any side effects of drugs that affect the function of the kidney

As kidneys are essential organs in our body and their proper functioning is vital for a healthy body, this test is prevalent for different medical conditions & general health checkups.

Urea creatinine test

Urea test along with creatinine level check for normal functioning of Kidney. A blood urea nitrogen test usually accompanies the creatinine test. 

Creatinine test types and methods

Depending on the doctor’s advice, a diagnostic centre may use a blood or urine sample for the test. The test is conducted on serum in the blood. Thus, it is also known as the creatinine serum test. Below is the list of different popular test types and methods with their purpose:

Creatinine blood test

It is the most common blood test. It is also known as the serum creatinine test.

Creatinine Urine test

Creatinine can be measured in a sample of urine. An early morning urine sample is preferable.

Creatinine clearance test

It is a urine test that measures the kidney capacity for creatinine clearance from the urine. This test requires the urine sample from a 24 hours window. In this case, you need to collect urine over 24 hours and give a sample for testing. This test is often done along with serum creatinine tests.

Procedure

The procedure of creatinine blood test and creatinine urine test are as follows –

Procedure of Creatinine blood test

A blood sample is drawn by puncturing the veins in the arms using a small needle. The sample is collected in a test tube or a vial and sent to the lab. The procedure takes a few minutes. 

Procedure of Creatinine urine test

The technician will provide you with a clean, sterilized container to collect the urine over 24 hours. When you start collecting the urine, make sure to discard the morning urine. In the next 24 hours, save the urine in the container. Keep the container in a cool place and send it to the laboratory as and when instructed.

Preparation

There is no preparation required for a blood test, and you can have your meal before and after the test. Your healthcare provider will inform you if any special preparation is needed.

For creatinine levels in the urine, one needs to collect urine over 24 hours in a sterilized container.

Side effects

There are no side effects except a slight pain or bruise at the site where the needle is injected.

Test result

The creatinine test is prepared in 8-24 hours.  

A high level of creatinine in blood indicates any of the following-

• Blockage in the urinary tract
• Cardiac problem
• Autoimmune diseases
• Infection in the kidneys
• Diabetic complications 

The creatinine level might decrease in the following four situations

• During pregnancy
• Excessive workout
• Certain medications
• consumption red meat rich diet

In case, your test results indicate any abnormality, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Normal Range

Reference normal range for creatinine test is

Test Name	Normal Range	Unit
Creatinine Serum	0.7-1.3	mg/dL
Creatinine, Random Urine	24-392	mg/dL

You can download a sample report pdf from here.

Bookmerilab provides Creatinine test through its lab partners in more than 400 cities of India. You can either visit a diagnostic centre nearby or book a free home sample collection for the test.

Most of the health checkup packages also include it along with other important parameters for Kidney and general body assessment.