Patient Education & Resources

Understanding your kidney numbers in plain English

Kidney labs can feel overwhelming with acronyms like eGFR, BUN, and UACR. We believe educated patients are empowered patients. Here is an honest, plain-English breakdown of what your kidney numbers mean.

The Core Labs

The three kidney numbers that matter most

When our nephrologist reviews your blood and urine tests, these are the primary markers that tell the story of your kidney function.

Blood Test

eGFR (Filtration Rate)

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate calculates how many milliliters of blood your kidneys clean each minute. Think of it roughly like a kidney efficiency score from 0 to 100+.

90+ : Normal kidney function 60–89 : Mild reduction < 60 : Indicator of Chronic Kidney Disease

Blood Test

Serum Creatinine

Creatinine is a natural waste product generated by muscle breakdown. Healthy kidneys filter it out into the urine. If kidney function drops, creatinine builds up in the bloodstream.

Normal Range: ~0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL Trend Matters: A rising number over time indicates kidney stress that warrants specialist review.

Urine Test

UACR (Albumin / Protein)

Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio measures microscopic protein leaking into urine. Even if your blood eGFR is completely normal, persistent albumin is an early warning sign of kidney stress.

< 30 mg/g : Normal 30–300 mg/g : Microalbuminuria > 300 mg/g : Macroalbuminuria (Kidney stress)

Clinical Staging

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) stages explained

CKD is divided into five stages based on your eGFR. Most patients diagnosed in Stages 1–3 can slow or halt progression with proper blood pressure and medication management.

CKD Stage	eGFR Range	What Is Happening	Specialist Clinical Focus
Stage 1	90+ mL/min	Normal or high filtration rate with evidence of kidney damage (such as persistent protein in the urine).	Identify root cause, control blood pressure, manage diabetes, and monitor lifestyle habits.
Stage 2	60–89 mL/min	Mild reduction in kidney function accompanied by signs of kidney stress or damage.	Initiate kidney-protective medications (SGLT2 inhibitors / ACEi / ARBs) and slow progression rate.
Stage 3a	45–59 mL/min	Mild to moderate loss of kidney function.	Active specialist nephrology co-management, routine lab trending, blood pressure target <120/80.
Stage 3b	30–44 mL/min	Moderate to severe reduction in kidney function.	Proactive screening for anemia, bone mineral health, and careful dose adjustments for all daily medications.
Stage 4	15–29 mL/min	Severe reduction in kidney function.	Unhurried advanced planning: vascular access planning, home dialysis education, or preemptive living donor transplant referral.
Stage 5	< 15 mL/min	Kidney failure / End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).	Initiation of individualized renal replacement therapy (peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, transplant, or active medical management).

Home Monitoring

How to measure blood pressure correctly at home

More than half of patients take home readings incorrectly, leading to false high numbers and unnecessary anxiety. Follow these four clinical steps:

Rest First

Sit quietly with feet flat on the floor and back supported for at least 5 minutes before pressing start. Avoid caffeine, exercise, or smoking for 30 minutes prior.

Proper Cuff Placement

Use an upper arm cuff (not a wrist cuff). Place it on bare skin, 1 inch above the bend of the elbow. Ensure the cuff is at heart level.

Take Duplicate Readings

Take two readings spaced 1 minute apart morning and evening. Discard the first if you felt anxious and record the average in your log.

Bring Your Cuff to Your Appointment

Bring both your home readings log and your physical monitor to your appointment so our clinical team can calibrate it against our clinic standards.

Verified External Resources

Organizations we trust and recommend

We encourage patients to explore peer-reviewed, non-profit foundations for kidney diet recipes, research updates, and financial support.

Kidney.org