Health guide
Creatinine test: what high or low levels mean for your kidneys
Creatinine is a waste product your muscles make every day, and healthy kidneys filter it out into the urine. A blood creatinine level is therefore a window into how well your kidneys are working: when filtering slows, creatinine rises. It is usually read together with urea and an estimated filtration rate (eGFR) as part of a Kidney Function Test.
Reviewed by Dr. Vishal Singh, Lab Director
When to check your kidney function
- Swelling around the ankles, feet, or face
- Changes in how much or how often you urinate
- High blood pressure or diabetes
- Persistent tiredness or poor appetite
- A family history of kidney disease
- Long-term use of painkillers or certain medicines
What creatinine and eGFR show together
Creatinine on its own is a snapshot; paired with eGFR it estimates the percentage of normal filtering your kidneys are doing. A higher creatinine usually means lower filtering. Because a single mildly high value can simply reflect dehydration or a muscular build, doctors look at the trend over time alongside eGFR before drawing conclusions.
The normal range and what affects it
Creatinine is typically around 0.7-1.3 mg/dL in men and 0.6-1.1 mg/dL in women, though the exact range varies by lab and is printed on your report. Muscle mass, hydration, a heavy protein meal, and some medicines can nudge it. Always interpret your result with a doctor rather than in isolation.
This guide is for general information and is not a diagnosis. Always discuss your symptoms and results with a doctor. LabONE includes a free doctor consultation with every report.
Tests that help
Recommended panel
KidneyShield
8 parameters in one panel
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal creatinine level?
Roughly 0.7-1.3 mg/dL for men and 0.6-1.1 mg/dL for women, but ranges differ by lab and by your muscle mass. Read your value against the range on your report and discuss it with a doctor.
Can dehydration raise creatinine?
Yes. Being dehydrated can temporarily raise creatinine. This is one reason a doctor may repeat the test or look at eGFR and the overall trend before deciding anything.
Do I need to fast for a creatinine test?
Fasting is not strictly required, but if it is part of a full body checkup with a lipid or sugar test, follow the fasting advice for those.
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