eGFR
An estimate of how much blood the kidneys filter per minute, calculated from creatinine, age and sex.
| Typical reference range | above 60 mL/min/1.73m2 |
| Commonly cited optimal range | above 90 mL/min/1.73m2 |
Ranges vary by laboratory, method, age and sex: always use the range printed on your own report. Why labs differ.
What it measures
Glomerular filtration rate is the volume of blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is rarely measured directly; instead it is estimated using equations (currently CKD-EPI 2021, which no longer uses race) based on serum creatinine and sometimes cystatin C, age and sex.
Why it matters
eGFR is the main measure for staging chronic kidney disease. Values below 60 for three months or more define CKD, and it guides medication dosing. GFR declines gradually with age, roughly 1 mL/min per year after 40.
What a high result can mean
High eGFR (above ~120) is usually not a concern and may reflect low muscle mass, pregnancy or early diabetic hyperfiltration.
What a low result can mean
Low eGFR suggests reduced kidney function from conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease or obstruction, but can be falsely low with high muscle mass, creatine supplementation, dehydration or recent heavy exercise.
What affects the result
Inherits all the confounders of creatinine. A combined creatinine-cystatin C equation is more accurate when results are borderline. Older reports may list separate 'African American' and 'non-African American' values; the race-free 2021 equation is now standard. Pair with urine albumin/creatinine ratio for a full kidney assessment.
Units and conversion
Usually reported in mL/min/1.73m2.
- From mL/min/1.73m²: multiply by 1 to get mL/min/1.73m2
- From mL/min/{1.73_m2}: multiply by 1 to get mL/min/1.73m2
- From mL/min: multiply by 1 to get mL/min/1.73m2
Also called on lab reports
eGFR NON-AFR. AMERICAN, eGFR If NonAfricn Am, eGFR Non-African American, Estimated GFR, GFR, Estimated, GFR Estimated, Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, eGFR CKD-EPI, eGFR (CKD-EPI 2021), eGFR Creatinine, eGFR, Creatinine-Based
Related tests: Kidney Function
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional.