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Are you over 60 years old? Then, according to MedlinePlus, you have a higher risk of a kidney condition. An eGFR shows how well your kidneys are working.[1]
On this page, you can read what eGFR is, what the guidelines say about a value that is too low or too high, what affects your value and which other values are best read alongside it.
Also known as: estimated GFR, calculated glomerular filtration rate, cGFR. At the lab: CKDEPI.
Your kidneys sit on either side of your spine, just below your ribs. They contain tiny filters called glomeruli. These remove waste and extra water from your blood and get rid of it through your urine.[1]
Measuring the filtering work directly is complicated and cannot be done everywhere. That is why healthcare providers usually use an estimate: the eGFR. It often starts with creatinine, a waste product that comes from the normal wear and tear of your muscles.[1]
Creatinine alone is not enough, because people make different amounts of it. So a formula also takes your age, weight, height and sex into account. Sometimes cystatin C is used instead, a protein that does not depend on muscle mass, age or food.[1]
A kidney condition usually causes no symptoms in its early stages. An eGFR can still make it visible then. That way, you and your healthcare provider can discuss next steps in good time.[1]
Your risk of a kidney condition is higher if you have high blood pressure, have a heart condition, smoke, are over 60 years old or if kidney conditions run in your family. In that case, ask your healthcare provider how often a test makes sense.[1]
In a later stage, a kidney condition can cause symptoms. Think of swelling in your legs, feet, ankles, hands or face, urinating more or less often, dry or itchy skin, tiredness, muscle cramps, nausea and a poorer appetite.[1]
An international guideline from KDIGO describes how doctors assess anaemia in people with a long-term kidney condition.[2]
Labplusarts, the lab BioProfile works with, uses a reference value of 90 to 120 ml/min/1.73 m2 for eGFR. The lab calls a value within those limits normal.[3]
| Value | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 90 to 120 ml/min/1.73 m2[3] | The lab calls a value between these limits normal | Measurements at Labplusarts |
Reference value from Labplusarts, the lab BioProfile works with, for eGFR (CKDEPI).[3]
A low eGFR can indicate that your kidneys are filtering waste too slowly. That can be a sign of kidney damage caused by a kidney condition. Your healthcare provider will look at what your result means for you.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Some foods, such as meat, can affect your eGFR. That is why your healthcare provider sometimes asks you not to eat, or not to eat meat, for a few hours before the test.[1]
Certain medicines can affect your result. Tell your healthcare provider about everything you take. Do not stop taking a medicine on your own, only when your healthcare provider tells you to.[1]
How much creatinine you make depends on your build, your diet and how active you are. If you have a lot of muscle mass, are pregnant or are missing a limb, a result based on creatinine may be less accurate. Your healthcare provider may then choose cystatin C or a direct measurement.[1]
eGFR is included in BioProfile 77, 98, 121 and 150.[4]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 6 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 6 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert will still review this page; after that review, the expert's name and the date of the review will appear at the top. This page explains, it does not diagnose. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
