Creatinine clearance

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Creatinine tests

The risks of the test are minimal and are related to the blood draw process. Rarely, the following will occur:

• Excessive bleeding at blood draw site
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
• Multiple punctures to locate veins

Factors that may interfere with the accuracy of the test are as follows:

• Incomplete urine collection
• Pregnancy
• Vigorous exercise

Drugs that can interfere with creatinine clearance measurements include: cimetidine, trimethoprim, and drugs that can damage the kidneys, such as cephalosporins.

The creatinine clearance test should only be done for patients who are medically stable. Such patients may have a rapidly changing creatinine clearance, and therefore any result may be inaccurate.

Review Date: 08/10/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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