Metabolic panel
Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product from normal muscle turnover that the kidneys filter out. Because production is fairly steady, the level in blood is a practical way to estimate how well the kidneys are filtering.
Typical adult reference range
Roughly 0.7 to 1.3 in men, 0.6 to 1.1 in women · mg/dL
Ranges vary between laboratories and by age, sex and method. Always read your own result against the range printed on your own report.
What a high result can mean
A raised creatinine can mean reduced kidney filtration, but it also rises with dehydration, with a large muscle mass, after intense exercise, after a high meat intake, and with some medicines. A single raised value is usually repeated before conclusions are drawn.
What a low result can mean
A low creatinine often simply reflects low muscle mass, and is also seen in pregnancy and with long-term illness. It is rarely a problem in itself.
What commonly affects this result
Hydration, muscle mass, intense exercise in the previous days, meat intake, and several common medicines.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- What is my eGFR alongside this, and is it stable compared with before?
- Could dehydration or exercise explain this reading?
- Do any of my medicines need reviewing because of my kidney function?
See what your own results say
Upload your blood test and get a plain English summary of every value on it, with the questions worth raising at your next appointment.
Analyse my resultsThis page explains what a test measures. It is general information, not medical advice, and it cannot tell you what your own result means. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and results are only meaningful alongside your history, your symptoms and your other results. Always discuss your results with your doctor.