Humans are born with two kidneys and have it throughout their life.  The kidney has a major role in the human body, where it helps in removing blood toxins and converting any waste gathered into urine. However, just like any natural human disease, kidney diseases like diabetes are also getting more common these days.

These diseases are very harmful as they disrupt the common behavior of the organ. But, these diseases have a cure. These patients now require kidney panel tests. Let’s try to know about it in brief.

What is a Kidney Panel Test?

A Kidney Panel Test, also known as Kidney Function Test, is a combination of several tests that can identify the disease related to the kidney in a human body through various procedures of testing. It is done to check renal functionality.

It helps diagnose and monitor kidney-related conditions such as chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, and other disorders.  There are generally 2 different testing procedures. These include:

Blood Test

As Kidneys are responsible for removing blood toxins from the body, a doctor can suggest 3 kinds of blood tests. They are:

• Serum Creatinine Test – It checks for the formation of creatinine which is a waste product of muscle tissue breakdown.
• Glomerular Filtration Rate(GFR) Test – It measures filtration rates concerning the protein levels, gender, age, race, and size of the body.
• Blood Urea Nitrogen(BUN) Test – It helps in measuring the amount of nitrogen in the blood.

Urine Test

Most healthcare suggests 24-hour urine testing, which is comprised of two kinds:

• Microalbuminuria or Urine Albumin-to-creatine ratio(UACR) Test – This test tries to identify a specific protein, albumin, for its presence.
• Urinalysis Test – This one checks if blood levels, protein levels, and functionality are as they should be by examining the urine.

Kidney profile tests in Mumbai are updated with all these methods for identifying kidney diseases in the human body.

Importance of Following Fasting Instructions

All doctors and healthcare suggest fasting before doing any kidney function test. The reason behind it is that our human body might be in the middle of digestion and absorption from inside which might further bring an abnormal test result. Also, the conditions of any human body have to be in a very neutral state when the testing would not affect identifying kidney diseases.

Few more instructions to look for Kidney Panel Test

The doctor must be aware of any alterations a patient makes against the necessary advised comments. Moreover, several other things are needed to be considered along with it.

1. Stay hydrated

Always try to have plain and simple water as a beverage to have kidneys function with all its capabilities even after having issues with it.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine

Alcohol would be a great offense in disrupting your kidneys’ behavior. Caffeine has a similar effect as well. If a patient tries to consume either of them, he or she will not have accurate results in the kidney function test.

2. Bring ID and insurance information

Here in any diagnostic center in Mumbai, a patient having kidney-related issues will have to identify themselves with an ID and the healthcare members would cross-check their IDs with the insurance information they got for themselves in case of emergencies.

3. Need to inform about medications

Doctors prescribe medications to their patients as needed for their specific body. These medications needed to be informed to the center to have a better understanding and have changes to the time of the test or any other requirement.

Generally, there are 2 medications that the doctor prescribes to delay kidney diseases:

• ACE inhibitors
• ARBs

Even after that patients need to keep certain things in mind.

Dress comfortably

Although there is a reason for discomfort, a patient must be adequately dressed as if he or she wears for going out in any place. The sensation of discomfort will vanish if the patient thinks of it being a normal day.

Relax during the test

During the test, a lot of discomfort and awkwardness arise. However, patients need to keep their cool and cooperate with all the instructions. Patients are motivated during the kidney profile tests in Mumbai to have the least abruptness in test results.

4. Follow post-test instructions

The healthcare would suggest a few precautions that needed to be maintained properly. These include:

• Lifting heavy items
• High-tension exercises like jogging
• Sexual intercourse

These are vital information that every diagnostic center in Mumbai must provide to their patients.

5. Report allergies

There can be two consequences after the test. Either there would be an allergic-type reaction or it would be a contrast-induced nephropathy (happens after governance of radiographic contrast media).

Allergic-type reactions can be:

• Mild – nausea, vomiting, mild urticaria, or pallor
• Moderate – severe vomiting, extensive urticaria, dyspnea, rigor, or laryngeal edema
• Severe – pulmonary edema, cardiac arrhythmias or arrest, or circular collapse

If a patient feels such kinds of allergies they must inform about it to the healthcare department rather than thinking of getting rid of kidney diseases.

Discussing concerns about Kidney Panel Test

Kidney Panel Test comes with its benefits and drawbacks. However, most patients are concerned about the post-effects of this test and the fear of having the test from the beginning. From a doctor’s perspective, the effects and fear depend from person to person, but one must address these concerns and neglect the aftermath.

Conclusion

If the kidneys are not working as they should, patients must seek any diagnostic center in Mumbai and have their Kidney function test or kidney panel test. It will not be bad to confirm every piece of information about the body and understand what is needed to have a better life. Moreover, one must be aware of the instructions of this test and they will have their way of preventing kidney diseases.