Our kidneys do tremendous work every day, filtering liters of blood. However, some pathological processes may interfere with the performance of such an important task for organs. The Reberg test is the analysis that helps a specialist determine how well the patient’s kidneys are doing their job. In the article, we will present how to correctly collect a sample of urine for research in the laboratory, as evidenced by the results of the analysis.
What is it?
So, the Reberg test is a comprehensive research test that helps to determine the concentration of the creatine element in urine and blood serum. According to its results, a specialist can diagnose the fact of renal pathology or impaired functioning of the urinary system in general.
The Reberg test will determine the quality of creatine excretion along with urine. For this purpose, both the composition of the patient's daily urine and the rate of cleansing by the kidneys of the blood mass in one minute are analyzed. This is the definition of the so-called clearance (purification) of creatine. Allows you to assess the state of renal blood flow, the quality of the reverse absorption of primary urine in the tubules, the degree of blood filtration.
Thus, the Reberg test is a comprehensive study of the health of the renal system, its purification function.
When is the analysis scheduled?
A nephrologist sends the patient for a similar examination. The basis for this is:
- Complaints of acute and aching pain in the abdomen, kidney area.
- Swelling of the mucous membranes, skin.
- Complaints of persistent aching joints.
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- The patient has a feeling that his bladder is not completely empty.
- Reduced daily urine output.
- Itching, burning, pain and other discomfort when urinating.
- Change in color of urine (urine becomes brown, red, other dark shades, impurities of mucus, pus or blood appear in it).
When is analysis necessary?
The Reberg test (how to correctly pass the analysis, we will definitely consider further) is prescribed by the attending physician for the following purposes:
- Assess the general condition, performance of the renal system.
- Diagnose a particular kidney disease, its severity, degree of progression, development dynamics.
- Make a preliminary prognosis of treatment success.
- To study how the kidneys function in a patient who is forced to take (nephrotoxic) drugs that poison these organs.
- Determine the degree of dehydration.
Periodically, the Reberg test (how to correctly pass the analysis, it is important to know to everyone who is prescribed it) is prescribed to patients suffering from the following diseases and lesions:
- glomerulonephritis;
- arterial hypertension;
- nephritis;
- renal failure;
- poisoning with drugs to stimulate cardiovascular activity;
- amyloidosis;
- hepatorenal syndrome;
- convulsive syndromes of various kinds;
- Cushing's syndrome;
- Goodpasture syndrome;
- Alport syndrome;
- Wilms syndrome;
- purpura thrombocytopenic.
We proceed to the next topic. Consider the normal results of the analysis.
Normal performance
Our theme is the Reberg test. Normal indicators for men are as follows (values in ml / min / 1.7 m 2 are given ):
- Older than 70 years old - 55-113.
- 60-70 - 61-120.
- 50-60 - 68-126.
- 40-50 - 75-133.
- 30-40 - 82-140.
- 1-30 - 88-146.
- 0-1 - 65-100.
Now, normal Reberg test results for women:
- Older than 70 years old - 52-105.
- 60-70 - 58-110.
- 50-60 - 64-116.
- 40-50 - 69-122.
- 30-40 - 75-128.
- 1-30 - 81-134.
- 0-1 - 65-100.
Pay attention to such a section as "general reabsorption of the tubules of the kidneys." Normal indicators there are 95-99%.
Note that in an adult who does not suffer from serious diseases and pathologies, the clearance (that is, the volume of blood that will be cleared of creatine over a certain period of time) is 125 ml per minute.
What are the increased values talking about?
The results of the Reberg test (urine, blood here are samples for research in the laboratory) can only be deciphered accurately by a specialist. However, we will present to the reader a number of diseases, the presence of which indicators can indicate if they are higher than normal in a particular patient:
- Nephrotic syndrome.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Diabetes mellitus. High clearance rates in this case indicate a risk of renal failure.
- The patient made a diet with excessive amounts of protein food.
What are the lower values talking about?
We remind you once again that the article is not the basis for self-diagnosis - the exact conclusion from the analysis will be presented to you by the attending doctor (nephrologist, therapist, urologist, functional diagnostician, pediatrician).
In different cases, reduced clearance rates will indicate the presence of the following pathologies and diseases in the patient:
- General disruption of the renal system.
- Glomerulonephritis.
- Dehydration
- Renal failure, which manifests itself in both chronic and acute form.
- Violation of the outflow of urine. Here we are talking about various pathologies of the patient's bladder outlet.
- The shock experienced by the body as a result of any injury, surgery or other serious shock.
- Chronic heart failure.
What affects the analysis result?
How to take a test of Reberg? It is important to know this because the following will influence the result of the analysis:
- Physical activity during the collection of a sample of urine overestimates the clearance.
- A number of drugs underestimate this indicator. Such drugs include cephalosporins, Quinidine, Trimethoprim, Cimetidine, and so on.
- Age of patient after forty years. As a rule, clearance is naturally reduced.
- Violation by the patient of the rules of preparation for sampling the material.
- Violation by the medical staff and patient of the procedure for sampling blood and urine.
Preparing for the test
The Reberg test is a two-part study. In the laboratory, the patient's blood serum and a sample of his urine are examined. It is worth preparing for the blood test and urinalysis. The Reberg test does not make sense after a series of studies:
- Gynecological examination.
- X-ray
- CT scan.
- Rectal examination.
- Magnetic resonance therapy.
- Ultrasonography.
For the collection of urinalysis, the patient is prepared as follows:
- 1-2 days before the appointed procedure, a person protects himself from all the stresses - both physical and emotional.
- A day before the collection of samples from the diet, a number of drinks are excluded - caffeinated, tonic, energy drinks, which include any percentage of alcohol.
- For 2-3 days, fatty and spicy products, smoked, meat food are removed from the usual diet.
- 2-3 days before the test, you need to abandon plant foods, which can change the color of urine. Some vegetables (carrots, beets), berries belong to this.
- A week before the Reberg test, the patient stops taking medications that affect the filtering ability of the kidneys. These include diuretics (diuretics), hormonal drugs.
For the collection of a blood sample, the preparation will be as follows:
- The analysis is best planned in the morning, as it is given exclusively on an empty stomach. From the moment of the last meal, at least 10-12 hours should pass.
- If you smoke, then the last cigarette should be smoked at least 3 hours before the procedure.
- 30 minutes before blood sampling, the patient should be in complete physical and emotional rest.
Capillary blood sampling. That is, a specialist takes a sample from a finger using a scarifier.
Reberg test: how to collect urine?
If a blood sample is taken by a specialist in the treatment room, then in most cases the patient collects the urine sample on his own. How to do it right?
How to collect a Reberg test:
- Urine of the first morning urination is not suitable for analysis.
- Be sure to take a hygienic shower after the first urination (this includes washing the genitals). Use only boiled water and a neutral soap or shower gel for the procedure, since the product should not contain fragrances or dyes.
- All subsequent urination should be done in a special prepared container (volume - 2-3 liters). Urine is stored at a temperature of 4-8 °. If this condition is not met, the physical properties of urine will change, an analysis of the collected urine will show results that depart from reality.
- The most recent urine sample is collected exactly 24 hours after the first. That is, at about 6-8 in the morning the next day.
- Do not take all collected fluid to the laboratory! Mix it well with the prepared stick and pour 50 ml of urine into the analysis container. Cork with a lid.
- Prepare the container for delivery to the laboratory, that is, fix a plate on it with the necessary information. This is the surname and name of the patient, his age, date of collection of material, the volume of all urine collected for the previous day. If the Reberg test is assigned to a child or teenager, then it is additionally necessary to indicate its weight and height.
- The urine container is sent by you to the laboratory on the day you last collected the urine sample.
The Reberg test is a comprehensive study that consists of a patient’s blood and urine test. Preparation for it should begin already a week before the planned date for the provision of samples for research. The urine sample is collected by the patient independently according to the standard method.