Most docs like a PCP, an endocrinologist, a cardiologist, and various others use the common method of eGFR to measure creatinine serum in your blood. That creatine level is calculated to show your eGFR in numerical terms, and further into stages of kidney disease. Many researchers say that this is accurate, perhaps 77% - 85% of the time. It is a measurement of kidney function.

Another kidney diagnostic method that is accurate 90% of the time is called Cystatin C. It is more common to see this used with diabetics with kidney disease. However, if there is a question regarding your eGFR, this test will confirm or validate your eGFR result.

Lastly, another sign and test of kidney disease is protein in the urine. Someone could have a eGFR of 60. for example, but have no protein in the urine which may/may not indicate kidney damage.

So being tested often, six to twelve weeks, establishes a relevant trend for those who wish to keep track of these values. For me, my labs are done within and outside of Mayo, so I keep track of the labs by date of service. You may wish to keep track of creatinine, eGFR and Cystatin C to establish your personal trend of values for each. It is that trend that guides us for the long term.