How is kidney failure diagnosed?

Doctors use a variety of tests to measure kidney function and diagnose kidney failure. If your doctors suspect you may be at risk for kidney failure, they may recommend:

  • Blood tests, which can show how well the kidneys are removing waste from the blood.
  • Advanced imaging, which can show kidney abnormalities or obstructions (blockages).
  • Urine tests, which measure the amount of urine or specific substances in the urine, such as protein or blood.

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