Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Assessment and Diagnosis

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the nation’s leading laboratories and clinical laboratory societies are collaborating to remove barriers to testing for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The collaboration will help standardize the tests used to detect CKD, improve comparison of test results among laboratories, increase early recognition of the disease and promote patient awareness of the condition.

State of CKD and CKD Assessment Today

Of the almost 75 million Americans at risk for developing CKD, approximately 30 million people will develop CKD with only about 3.6 million aware that they have this condition. CKD is asymptomatic at its onset, and its progression can be slowed or halted in its early stages. Guidelines¹ recommend regular CKD testing for people at risk for CKD, which includes those living with diabetes and/or hypertension. Currently, 94% of patients with hypertension and 61% with diabetes are not receiving both tests necessary to detect and assess CKD.

As CKD progresses, the risk for cardiovascular events, mortality and kidney failure dramatically increases. The tests used to diagnose CKD have been shown to be strong predictors of both cardiovascular mortality and kidney failure risk.

¹Inker, L.A., et al., KDOQI US commentary on the 2012 KDIGO clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and management of CKD. American Journal of Kidney Diseases.2014; 63(5): p. 713-35.

New Kidney Profile to Improve Diagnosis

A component of this collaboration is the new “Kidney Profile.” Laboratories adopting the Kidney Profile will simplify ordering of the tests needed to detect and diagnose CKD by pairing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) together under one heading on the laboratory requisition form or electronic health record order.

Such streamlining of CKD test ordering could help to eliminate the need to search for each test separately and increases the ease of monitoring results. The “Kidney Profile” also makes it easier for people at risk for CKD to better understand and track their health.

For more information regarding this important collaboration, read the press release (pdf) and quote sheet (pdf) sheet, and review the laboratory engagement plan and other professional resources on this page.

Laboratory engagement plan (pdf)