Law Requires Labs to Make GFR Calculations
A law passed in 2006 requires testing laboratories to perform an additional calculation when testing serum creatinine levels.
Act 144 requires laboratories to perform an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculation on patients older than 18 when the lab receives the information necessary for the calculation to be considered medically appropriate and valid.
There is no additional cost to patients since the estimated GFR calculation is part of the serum creatinine level test.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Specialty Leadership Cabinet has determined that education on GFR testing would be helpful to physicians. To learn more about the benefits of testing, visit the National Kidney Foundation’s FAQ on GFR estimates.
Physicians also should be aware that they may receive GFR data from a laboratory even if they didn’t order it.
Last Updated: 8/1/2008