Your kidneys are vital organs that filter waste, regulate fluid levels, balance electrolytes, and help control blood pressure. When they’re not functioning correctly, it can lead to serious health complications, often without noticeable symptoms in the early stages (Vaidya, 2024).
This guide explains how to test your kidneys and how to check them using simple, fast, and readily available laboratory tests that do not require a doctor’s referral.
Common Questions About Kidney Testing
Many people aren’t sure when or why to test their kidneys. Questions like:
• “How do I know if something’s wrong with my kidneys?”
• “How can I check my kidney health?”
• “Do I need to have symptoms before testing?”
These are valid concerns, and the truth is, you don’t need to wait for symptoms. Kidney dysfunction can develop silently, and early testing is often the only way to catch problems before they become serious (Vaidya, 2024).
Early Testing Crucial For Kidney Health
Early testing is the best way to protect your long-term kidney health, especially if you:
• Have high blood pressure or diabetes
• Are of any age
• Take long-term medication (especially anti-inflammatories)
• Have a family history of kidney disease
• Experience unexplained swelling, fatigue, or changes in urination (Joseph, 2025).
The Most Common Kidney Function Tests
If you’ve searched “how to test kidneys” or “how to check my kidneys,” here are the key lab tests you should know about:
Creatinine Blood Test
Measures a waste product filtered by the kidneys. High levels may indicate impaired kidney function.
• Sample needed: Blood
• Why it matters: A quick, essential indicator of kidney health (Gounden, 2024)
eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)
This calculation estimates how well your kidneys filter blood. It’s based on your creatinine level, age, and sex.
• eGFR above 90 = normal
• eGFR below 60 = potential kidney disease (Gounden, 2024)
Urea (BUN) Test
This measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood. Elevated results may indicate reduced kidney function or dehydration (Gounden, 2024).
Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (ACR)
Protein in the urine is often the first sign of kidney damage. This test checks for small amounts of albumin, even before symptoms arise.
• Sample needed: Urine
• Why it’s helpful: Detects early damage that may not yet affect blood tests
Urinalysis
A broad screening test that checks for blood, protein, glucose, and infection markers — useful for identifying other urinary tract issues impacting the kidneys.
Book Your Kidney Tests Today
At Epicentre, testing your kidneys is simple. Whether you’re managing a chronic condition or just want to stay ahead of your health, you can walk in for testing — no doctor referral required. Our team is here to make the process comfortable and professional from start to finish.
📍 Visit one of our Walk-In Labs in Cape Town, Durban, or Johannesburg—or contact us to book your test!
References
1. Vaidya SR, Aeddula NR. Chronic Kidney Disease. [Updated 2024 Jul 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535404/
2. Joseph A. Vassalotti, Anna Francis, Augusto Cesar Soares dos Santos, Ricardo Correa-Rotter, Dina Abdellatif, Li-Li Hsiao, Stefanos Roumeliotis, Agnes Haris, Latha A. Kumaraswami, Siu-Fai Lui, Alessandro Balducci, Vassilios Liakopoulos, Are Your Kidneys Ok? Detect Early to Protect Kidney Health, Kidney International Reports, Volume 10, Issue 3, 2025, Pages 629-636, ISSN 2468-0249, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2025.01.033. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468024925000580)
3. Gounden V, Bhatt H, Jialal I. Renal Function Tests. [Updated 2024 Jul 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507821/
4. Topham P. Proteinuric renal disease. Clin Med (Lond). 2009 Jun;9(3):284-7; quiz 288-9. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.9-3-284. PMID: 19634399; PMCID: PMC4953623.
