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Creatinine Blood Test – Indications, Procedures, Results

Last updated: February 8, 2026 Medically reviewed by: RxHarun Orthopedic Specialist Doctor Reading time: 6 min read

Serum creatinine is a blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. A creatinine test is a measure of how well your kidneys are performing their job of filtering waste from your blood. Creatinine is a chemical compound leftover from energy-producing processes in your muscles. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine out of the blood. Creatinine exits your body as a waste product in urine.

Creatinine can also be measured with a urine test.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

The health care provider may tell you to temporarily stop taking certain medicines that can affect the test. These medicines include:

  • Cimetidine, famotidine, and ranitidine
  • Certain antibiotics, such as trimethoprim

Tell your provider about all the medicines you take.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

Creatinine is a chemical waste product of creatine. Creatine is a chemical made by the body and is used to supply energy mainly to muscles.

This test is done to see how well your kidneys work. Creatinine is removed from the body entirely by the kidneys. If kidney function is not normal, the creatinine level in your blood will increase. This is because less creatinine is released through your urine.

Normal Results

A normal result is 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL for men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL for women.

Women usually have a lower creatinine level than men. This is because women usually have less muscle mass than men. Creatinine level varies based on a person’s size and muscle mass.

The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

A higher than normal level may be due to:

  • Blocked urinary tract
  • Kidney problems, such as kidney damage or failure, infection, or reduced blood flow
  • Loss of body fluid (dehydration)
  • Muscle problems, such as breakdown of muscle fibers ( rhabdomyolysis )
  • Problems during pregnancy, such as seizures caused by eclampsia or high blood pressure caused by preeclampsia

A lower than normal level may be due to:

  • Conditions involving the muscles and nerves that lead to decreased muscle mass
  • Malnutrition

There are many other conditions for which the test may be ordered, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or medicine overdose. Your provider will tell you more, if needed.

Risks

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fainting or feeling lightheaded
  • Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
  • Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

FAQ

What does a high creatinine blood level mean?
  • Elevated creatinine level signifies impaired kidney function or kidney disease. As the kidneys become impaired for any reason, the creatinine level in the blood will rise due to poor clearance of creatinine by the kidneys. Abnormally high levels of creatinine thus warn of possible malfunction or failure of the kidneys.
What is a normal creatinine level?
Normal Results
  • A normal result is 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL (61.9 to 114.9 µmol/L) for men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL (53 to 97.2 µmol/L) for women. Women often have a lower creatinine level than men. This is because women often have less muscle mass than men. Creatinine level varies based on a person’s size and muscle mass.
What level of creatinine indicates kidney failure?
Blood Tests
  • A creatinine level of greater than 1.2 for women and greater than 1.4 for men may be an early sign that the kidneys are not working properly.
Is a high creatinine level serious?
  • Having high creatinine levels probably isn’t harmful on its own, though it can be a marker of other health conditions—including chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Can drinking water lower creatinine?
  • Drinking more water could lower the serum creatinine level, but does not change kidney function. Forcing excessive water intake is not a good idea. I suggest that you drink based on thirst and not excessively hydrate.
How do I lower my creatinine level?
Here are 8 ways to naturally lower your creatinine levels.
  1. Don’t take supplements containing creatine. …
  2. Reduce your protein intake. …
  3. Eat more fiber. …
  4. Talk with your healthcare provider about how much fluid you should drink. …
  5. Lower your salt intake. …
  6. Avoid overusing NSAIDs. …
  7. Avoid smoking. …
  8. Limit your alcohol intake.

Is creatinine 1.5 normal?

    • A very muscular person is allowed to have a higher normal creatinine compared with the average individual. A 1.8 is generally high for even a very muscular athlete. A 1.3 to 1.5 would not be for many patients. Serum creatinine over 2 is generally the reason for real concern.
What food should be avoided if creatinine is high?
  • If you’re worried about creatinine levels, avoid high-protein foods, like Red meat. Dairy products. Eggs.
Instead, try to eat more fiber-rich foods, like:
  • Fruits.
  • Vegetables.
  • Legumes.
  • Whole grains.
causes creatinine to increase?
  • Creatinine levels often rise during intense exercise, as more creatine is burned for energy, or because someone may eat a high-protein diet. High levels could also indicate a problem with the kidneys, as these organs get rid of waste products from the body to keep the blood clean.
What foods increase creatinine levels?
  • According to a 2014 study, eating cooked red meat may increase levels of creatinine. Red meat is muscle tissue, which naturally contains creatine, and cooking causes the creatine to break down into creatinine. When a person eats the meat, their body absorbs the creatinine, and their levels may rise.
Which fruit is good for creatinine?
  • Grapes, apples, and cranberries, as well as their respective juices, are all good substitutes for oranges and orange juice, as they have lower potassium contents. Oranges and orange juice are high in potassium and should be limited on a renal diet. Try grapes, apples, cranberries, or their juices instead.
Can dehydration cause high creatinine?
  • Dehydration generally causes BUN levels to rise more than creatinine levels. This causes a high BUN-to-creatinine ratio. Kidney disease or blocked urine flow from your kidney causes both BUN and creatinine levels to rise.
What are the symptoms of high creatinine?
If you have high creatinine levels, symptoms may include:
  • nausea.
  • vomiting.
  • fatigue.
  • changes in urination.
  • high blood pressure.
  • chest pains.
  • muscle cramps.
Can high creatinine cause death?
  • Incidences of end-stage renal disease and death were greatest among patients with larger changes in creatinine level, and all levels of serum creatinine increase were associated with a greater risk of end-stage renal disease and death.
What vitamins are good for kidneys?
  • Special renal vitamins are usually prescribed to kidney patients to provide the extra water-soluble vitamins needed. Renal vitamins contain vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, and a small dose of vitamin C.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

Add references, clinical guidelines, textbooks, journal articles, or trusted medical sources here. You can edit this area later with a custom field named _rx_references.

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Written by Dr. Harun Ar Rashid, MD - Arthritis, Bones, Joints Pain, Trauma, and Internal Medicine Specialist

Dr. Md. Harun Ar Rashid, MPH, MD, PhD, is a highly respected medical specialist celebrated for his exceptional clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to patient care. With advanced qualifications including MPH, MD, and PhD, he integrates cutting-edge research with a compassionate approach to medicine, ensuring that every patient receives personalized and effective treatment. His extensive training and hands-on experience enable him to diagnose complex conditions accurately and develop innovative treatment strategies tailored to individual needs. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harun Ar Rashid is dedicated to medical education and research, writing and inventory creative thinking, innovative idea, critical care managementing make in his community to outreach, often participating in initiatives that promote health awareness and advance medical knowledge. His career is a testament to the high standards represented by his credentials, and he continues to contribute significantly to his field, driving improvements in both patient outcomes and healthcare practices. Born and educated in Bangladesh, Dr. Rashid earned his BPT from the University of Dhaka before pursuing postgraduate training internationally. He completed his MD in Internal Medicine at King’s College London, where he developed a special interest in inflammatory arthritis and metabolic bone disease. He then undertook a PhD in Orthopedic Science at the University of Oxford, conducting pioneering research on cytokine signaling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Rashid returned to clinical work with a fellowship in interventional pain management at the Rx University School of Medicine, refining his skills in image-guided joint injections and minimally invasive pain-relief techniques.