Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine, which is an important part of muscle. This article discusses the laboratory test to measure the amount of creatinine in the blood.
Creatinine can also be measured with a urine test. See: Creatinine - urine
Alternative Names
Serum creatinine
How the test is performed
A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture
How to prepare for the test
The health care provider may tell you to stop taking certain drugs that may affect the test. Such drugs include:
Aminoglycosides (for example, gentamicin)
Cimetidine
Heavy metal chemotherapy drugs (for example, cisplatin)
Kidney damaging drugs such as cephalosporins (for example, cephalexin)
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Trimethoprim
How the test will feel
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performed
The test is done to see how well your kidneys work. Creatinine is removed from the body entirely by the kidneys. If kidney function is abnormal, creatinine levels will increase in the blood (because less creatinine is released through your urine).
Creatinine levels also vary according to a person's size and muscle mass.
Normal Values
A normal result is 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL for men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL for women.
Females usually have a lower creatinine than males, because they usually have less muscle mass.
The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
Excessive bleeding
Fainting or feeling light-headed
Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
References
Landry DW, Bazari H. Approach to the patient with renal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 116.
Review Date:
8/20/2011
Reviewed By:
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
