The creatinine clearance test compares the level of creatinine in urine with the creatinine level in the blood. (Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine, which is an important part of muscle.) The test helps provide information on kidney function.
What’s The Normal Range of Creatinine Clearance?
Clearance is often measured as milliliters/minute (ml/min). Normal values are:
Male: 97 to 137 ml/min.
Female: 88 to 128 ml/min.
The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
Why It’s Done?
The creatinine clearance test is used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
However, because a small amount of creatinine is released by the filtering tubes in the kidneys, creatinine clearance is not exactly the same as the GFR. In fact, creatinine clearance usually overestimates the GFR. This is particularly true in patients with advanced kidney disease.
What Abnormal Results Mean?
- Abnormal results (lower than normal creatinine clearance) may indicate:
- Acute tubular necrosis
- Bladder outlet obstruction
- Congestive heart failure
- Dehydration
- End-stage kidney disease
- Kidney failure
- Renal ischemia (too little blood flow to the kidneys)
- Renal outflow obstruction (usually must affect both kidneys to reduce the creatinine clearance)
- Shock
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