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Four-marker kidney function panel covering filtration capacity (creatinine and eGFR), nitrogen clearance (urea), and gout risk (uric acid).
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A four-marker kidney function panel measuring creatinine, eGFR, urea, and uric acid.
The kidneys filter approximately 180 litres of blood per day, removing waste products, regulating fluid balance, maintaining blood pressure, and producing erythropoietin (the hormone that stimulates red blood cell production). Kidney disease is increasingly common — affecting around 1 in 8 adults in the UK — and is often silent until significant kidney function has already been lost.
This four-marker kidney function panel covers the most clinically useful markers for routine renal health assessment:
Creatinine: a byproduct of muscle metabolism that is cleared by the kidneys at a relatively constant rate. Rising creatinine reflects declining filtration capacity.
eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate): calculated from creatinine, age, and sex, eGFR is the primary staging marker for chronic kidney disease (CKD). eGFR below 60 mL/min/1.73m2 for more than 3 months defines CKD.
Urea: a nitrogen waste product of protein metabolism. Elevated urea in proportion to creatinine can indicate dehydration; disproportionately high urea may suggest a high protein diet or gastrointestinal bleeding.
Uric acid: the end product of purine metabolism. Elevated levels cause gout and are associated with metabolic syndrome and hypertension.
Home fingerstick kit available. GMC-physician reviewed results within 3 to 5 working days.
Understand what each marker measures, why it matters, and what the science says — not just a list of numbers.
Muscle metabolism waste product cleared at a constant rate by healthy kidneys; elevated levels indicate declining filtration.
Calculated estimate of kidney filtration capacity; the primary CKD staging marker, using the CKD-EPI formula.
Protein metabolism nitrogen waste; the urea-to-creatinine ratio helps distinguish kidney disease from dehydration.
Purine metabolism end product; elevated in gout (above 360 micromol/L) and associated with metabolic syndrome.
This panel is designed for adults who want a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of their metabolic health — not a GP referral panel.
People with hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease wanting regular kidney monitoring
Those with a family history of kidney disease or polycystic kidney disease
Individuals on medications requiring renal monitoring (NSAIDs, metformin, ACE inhibitors)
Those with gout or elevated uric acid wanting regular metabolic monitoring
This panel uses the CKD-EPI formula for eGFR estimation, which incorporates creatinine, age, and sex. eGFR may be overestimated in individuals with very low muscle mass (e.g. elderly, underweight) and underestimated in those with very high muscle mass (e.g. bodybuilders). A single eGFR below 60 mL/min/1.73m2 should be confirmed with a repeat test after at least 3 months before a CKD diagnosis is established. This panel does not include urinary protein testing (ACR or PCR), which is essential for full CKD assessment and staging. Uric acid is a marker of gout risk and metabolic syndrome but does not diagnose gout, which requires clinical assessment of joints and, if needed, synovial fluid analysis. Elevated results should be discussed with a GP promptly.
From order to physician-reviewed report in as little as three working days.
Three options designed to fit your schedule, location, and preference — all producing a laboratory-standard sample.
Adults 18+ in mainland UK. Not suitable if you have had a transfusion in the last 3 months.
Order anytime; kit dispatched within 24 hours Mon–Fri.
Allow 24–48 hours for sample transit on top of lab processing time.
Adults 18+ within 20 miles of a serviced city centre.
Mon–Sun, 06:00–20:00. Next-day booking typical.
Sample reaches the lab within 24 hours of collection.
Adults 16+ with photo ID. Paediatric draws by appointment at selected sites.
Mon–Fri, with Saturday hours at most metropolitan locations.
Samples processed same-day at the receiving clinic.
Every test is processed in a UKAS ISO 15189-accredited laboratory, overseen by GMC-registered physicians, and governed by UK GDPR. No overseas processing, no offshore data.
Follow these guidelines to ensure accurate, reproducible results. Most markers are sensitive to recent food, exercise, and sleep.
Can't find your answer? Our clinical support team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
Contact supporteGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) is a calculated estimate of how efficiently your kidneys are filtering blood, expressed as mL of blood filtered per minute per 1.73 square metres of body surface area. In young, healthy adults, eGFR is typically above 90 mL/min/1.73m2. It declines gradually with age — around 1 mL/min per year — so lower values are expected in older adults. The CKD staging system classifies kidney function as follows: G1 above 90 (normal), G2 60 to 89 (mildly reduced), G3a 45 to 59 (mildly to moderately reduced), G3b 30 to 44 (moderately to severely reduced), G4 15 to 29 (severely reduced), G5 below 15 (kidney failure). Values below 60 should be confirmed by a repeat test and discussed with a GP.
Yes, significantly. Dehydration reduces blood flow to the kidneys, causing a temporary reduction in filtration and a rise in creatinine and urea. This is called pre-renal acute kidney injury (or pre-renal uraemia) when severe, and often returns to normal once hydration is restored. Urea rises disproportionately to creatinine in dehydration, giving a high urea-to-creatinine ratio. For the most accurate baseline kidney function assessment, ensure you are well hydrated in the 24 hours before collection and not collecting during an acute illness with poor fluid intake.
Several commonly used medications affect kidney function or require dose adjustment based on eGFR. These include: metformin (contraindicated when eGFR falls below 30); ACE inhibitors and ARBs (can cause a transient creatinine rise — up to 20 to 30% within the first 2 to 4 weeks is acceptable, beyond that requires review); NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac — these reduce renal blood flow and can cause or worsen CKD with regular use); certain antibiotics (gentamicin, vancomycin); and chemotherapy agents. If you are taking any of these regularly, periodic kidney function monitoring is advisable — typically annually or more frequently if levels are declining.
Uric acid is produced from the breakdown of purines in cells and from dietary purines. Causes of elevated uric acid include: high dietary purine intake (red meat, organ meats, shellfish, sardines, anchovies); high fructose intake (sugary drinks); alcohol (especially beer, which is rich in purines); dehydration; metabolic syndrome and obesity; reduced kidney clearance of uric acid (common in CKD and in people taking thiazide diuretics). Reduction strategies include: reducing red meat, organ meats, and shellfish; reducing beer and fructose; staying well hydrated; losing weight; and, for those with confirmed gout or very high uric acid, medical treatment with allopurinol or febuxostat.
For healthy adults without kidney disease risk factors, testing every 2 to 3 years as part of a general health check is reasonable. For those with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, or a family history of kidney disease, annual monitoring is appropriate. For those already diagnosed with CKD, monitoring frequency is determined by their CKD stage and clinical management plan — typically every 3 to 12 months under GP or nephrology care. For those on medications requiring renal monitoring, the schedule is guided by the prescribing physician.
