Reference ranges
| Adult men | 0.7 – 1.3 mg/dL |
| Adult women | 0.6 – 1.1 mg/dL |
| Children | 0.3 – 0.7 mg/dL |
| Better interpreted alongside | eGFR, which adjusts for age and sex |
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and methods. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report.
Seek care urgently if
- Creatinine rising rapidly over days
- Passing very little or no urine
- Swelling of legs and face with breathlessness
- Confusion with a high result
- Vomiting and unable to keep fluids down
- Known kidney disease with a sudden rise
What a high result can mean
Reduced kidney function
The main concern, whether acute or chronic.
Dehydration
A very common and fully reversible cause of a mildly raised result.
High muscle mass
Athletes and manual workers naturally run higher without disease.
Medication
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, and some antibiotics, raise creatinine.
Obstruction
Prostate enlargement or stones blocking urine flow.
What a low result can mean
Low muscle mass
Common in older adults and after prolonged illness.
Pregnancy
Creatinine normally falls.
Rarely clinically significant on its own
Have your result in front of you?
Send us the value and we will tell you whether it needs an appointment or not. No account, no form.
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What happens next
A single raised creatinine needs repeating — dehydration alone explains many of them. If it stays raised, eGFR and a urine test establish whether this is acute and reversible or chronic and needing management.
Kidney Function Test Urinalysis Blood Sugar TestOther results people look up
This page explains what a result can mean in general terms. It is not a diagnosis and cannot account for your history, medication or examination. All visits to Mascot Healthcare are by appointment — Mon–Sat, 9AM–5PM, 52 Sholanke Street, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.