Preferred Sample Type
Suitable Specimen Types
- 24 Hour Urine Plain
- Serum
24 Hour Urine Collection plus 0.5 mL serum
Sample Processing in Laboratory
UsualTurnaround Time
24 HoursCreatinine Clearance
General Information
The creatinine clearance test compares the level of creatinine in urine with the creatinine level in the blood. (Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine, which is an important part of muscle.) The test helps provide information on kidney function.
See also:
Patient Preparation
1st Day.
08.00 hours: Start collection of 24 hour specimen of urine in a plain urine container without preservative (white/label with black type). Information sheets and bottles are available from the laboratory.2nd Day.
2nd Day
08.00 hours: Finish 24 hour collection and send it to the laboratory together with a blood specimen collected during this period for serum creatinine.
Both urine and blood specimens must be accompanied by their separate request forms.

Shorter urine collection periods may be adopted eg. 4 hours or 12 hours, but a 24 hour collection provides a more reliable result.
In children, three accurately timed collections of 20-60 minutes may be made.
Reference Range
Calculation
Creatinine Clearance = U x V
PxT
where U = urine creatinine concentration in μmol/L, V = urine volume in mL, P = serum creatinine in μmol/L and T = time of collection in minutes.
Values for urinary and plasma (serum) creatinine must be in the same units.
NB. Urine creatinine is usually reported in mmol, and the value should be multiplied by 1000 for use in the equation.
Female CC = 72 – 110 mL/min
Male CC = 94 – 140 mL/min
Specifications
- EQA Scheme?: Yes
- EQA Status: NEQAS