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Real members of MyKidneyDiseaseTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Why am I getting different results from different labs

A MyKidneyDiseaseTeam Member asked a question 💭
July 24
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A MyKidneyDiseaseTeam Member

Hi, Patricia, I think you meant “urologist” for protein in urine, not neurologist. My phone/text messaging makes bizarre “autocorrects” like that! 😊
My nephrologist orders lab work every 3 months. I also have CHF (chronic heart disease). Good luck. I wish you well. Judi in RVA

August 4
A MyKidneyDiseaseTeam Member

Another reason is different labs use different ranges. Quest might use range of 3.5 to 8.2 were Labcore uses 4.6 to 9.6. The main thing is use the same lab for all your test .

July 24
MyKidneyDiseaseTeam

Getting different results from different labs can feel really frustrating and confusing. There are actually several reasons this can happen with kidney disease testing.

Some natural factors that can cause variation in results include:

- Your biological sex
- Your race
- How much water, food, or salt you recently consumed
- Show Full Answer

Getting different results from different labs can feel really frustrating and confusing. There are actually several reasons this can happen with kidney disease testing.

Some natural factors that can cause variation in results include:

- Your biological sex
- Your race
- How much water, food, or salt you recently consumed
- Whether you have a urinary tract infection at the time of testing

Because of this natural variation, doctors often recommend repeat testing within three months of an initial test to get a clearer picture. Different labs may also use slightly different equipment, reference ranges, or testing methods, which can lead to varying numbers even when your actual kidney function hasn't changed.

The best step is to bring all your results to your nephrologist and ask them to walk through what the numbers mean together. Tracking trends over time is often more meaningful than any single result. Don't hesitate to ask your care team to explain any terms or numbers that feel unclear — that's exactly what they're there for!

July 24

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