What lab value is commonly used to assess kidney function?

The lab value commonly used to assess kidney function is creatinine. Creatinine is a waste product produced by the muscles from the breakdown of creatine, a chemical involved in energy production. Under normal circumstances, the kidneys filter creatinine out of the bloodstream and into the urine, making it an effective marker for kidney health.

When kidney function is compromised, the filtration rate decreases, resulting in higher levels of creatinine in the blood. Therefore, measuring serum creatinine levels provides valuable insight into how well the kidneys are functioning. Clinicians use creatinine levels in conjunction with other assessments, such as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), to evaluate kidney function and diagnose potential kidney disease.

The other options, while they may indicate various health issues, do not serve as primary indicators of kidney function in the same straightforward manner that creatinine does. High chloride, low bicarbonate, and high potassium levels can be related to renal problems or other conditions but are not specifically or primarily used to assess kidney function.