РусскийEnglishEspañol — próximamenteFrançais — bientôtDeutsch — in VorbereitungItaliano — in arrivoAll languages
Creatinine
A muscle-waste product filtered entirely by the kidneys; the core kidney function marker.
Other names: Serum creatinineSection: Blood chemistry
Updated: August 29, 2026·MedProtect editorial team Reference information — not a diagnosis or a prescription
In shortA common reference range is 0.7–1.3 mg/dL (62–115 µmol/L) for men and 0.5–0.95 mg/dL (44–84 µmol/L) for women.
Reference ranges
Group
Reference range
Men
0.7–1.3 mg/dL (62–115 µmol/L)
Women
0.5–0.95 mg/dL (44–84 µmol/L)
Ranges vary slightly between laboratories, and what is normal for you depends on muscle mass, diet, age, and activity. Women often run lower than men because of lower muscle mass.
Check your value
Enter the number from your lab report — see how it compares with the typical range. Mind the units shown in the chosen row.
A rough comparison with a typical range, not a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary between laboratories — check the range on your own report and let a clinician interpret the result.
What this marker is
Creatinine is a chemical waste product of creatine, a substance the body makes to supply energy mainly to muscles. It is produced at a fairly steady rate and removed from the body entirely by the kidneys. If kidney function is not normal, less creatinine is excreted in the urine, and the level in the blood climbs.
This makes creatinine the standard blood marker of kidney function. The level varies with a person's size and muscle mass: women often have a lower blood creatinine than men because they tend to have less muscle. Age, diet, activity, and muscle bulk all shape what counts as normal for a particular person, and in healthy people the level stays fairly stable over time.
A normal result does not fully clear the kidneys. In the early stages of kidney disease, blood creatinine can stay inside the reference range and rise only as the condition becomes more serious — which is why providers often estimate the filtration rate (eGFR) from creatinine and add other kidney tests when they suspect a problem.
Blood is drawn from a vein. Your provider may ask you to temporarily stop certain medicines that affect the test — among them cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine, and the antibiotics cefoxitin and trimethoprim — but no medicine should be stopped without that instruction. Creatinine can also be measured in urine.
id="calc">GFR calculator from creatinine (CKD-EPI 2021)
Enter your age, sex and creatinine from the report — the calculator estimates GFR and the stage.
CKD-EPI 2021 formula (creatinine, race-free) — valid for adults 18+. The calculation runs in your browser; no data is sent anywhere.
When it is high
Kidney disease or kidney failureWhen the kidneys filter poorly, creatinine accumulates. Kidney damage, kidney infection, and reduced blood flow to the kidneys all raise the level.
Blocked urinary tractA blockage anywhere along the urinary tract backs up excretion and pushes creatinine up.
DehydrationLosing body fluid concentrates the blood and reduces kidney perfusion, so the level rises.
Muscle breakdownRhabdomyolysis — breakdown of muscle fibers — releases large amounts of creatine-derived waste. Muscle disorders, injuries, and muscular dystrophy act the same way.
Conditions that strain the kidneysHeart failure and diabetes affect the kidneys and can raise creatinine, as can pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and eclampsia.
Non-kidney reasonsIntense exercise and a diet high in meat can raise the result without any kidney problem.
When it is low
Low muscle massConditions involving the muscles and nerves that shrink muscle mass — long illness, nerve disorders, age-related muscle loss — lower creatinine production.
MalnutritionPoor nutrition reduces both muscle bulk and creatine availability, so less creatinine is made.
Serious liver diseaseAdvanced liver disease can also lead to low blood creatinine levels.
What can skew the result
These factors can shift the value without any disease — worth considering before a retest:
Muscle mass, age, and activity levelA diet high in meatIntense exerciseMedicines such as cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine, cefoxitin, trimethoprim
How to prepare
Tell your provider about every medicine you take. Your provider may ask you to temporarily stop medicines that affect the test, such as cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine, cefoxitin, or trimethoprim; do not stop any medicine on your own.
When a retest makes sense
A single high value cannot diagnose a specific condition: the test is usually repeated, often together with other kidney tests and an eGFR calculation. Creatinine can stay normal in early kidney disease, so a normal value does not rule a problem out.
Who usually reviews this result
A result outside the reference range is usually reviewed by: your GP or primary care doctor; a nephrologist if kidney disease is suspected. Bring your lab report and any previous results to the appointment.
Names used on lab reports
Your report may use any of these names: CreatinineSerum creatinineBlood creatinine
Units and conversion
Measured in: mg/dL
mg/dL=µmol/L
mg/dL × 88.4 = µmol/L. Example: 1.0 mg/dL = 88.4 µmol/L. Results are rounded to 2 decimal places.
Several markers on your report?
See how MedProtect explains results in the app: the whole report, a check of the recognized values, and a clear breakdown.
Can creatinine be normal while the kidneys are struggling?
Yes. Blood creatinine can remain in the reference range during the early stages of kidney disease and rise only as the condition becomes more serious. If a kidney problem is suspected, other kidney tests are added even when creatinine looks normal.
Why do men and women have different ranges?
Creatinine comes from muscle, and women on average have less muscle mass than men, so their blood level runs lower: 0.5–0.95 mg/dL (44–84 µmol/L) against 0.7–1.3 mg/dL (62–115 µmol/L). Body size and muscle bulk move any individual's normal value.
Does a high result always mean kidney disease?
No. Dehydration, intense exercise, a meat-heavy diet, and muscle injuries can all raise creatinine without kidney damage. That is why an abnormal result is confirmed by retesting and read with the other kidney tests.
We use cookies and Yandex.Metrika for visit statistics — no advertising tracking and no session recording. The counter loads only after your consent. Privacy policy.