The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases has released its final report which outlines a new race-free way to diagnose this life-threatening illness. The report recommends the adoption of the eGFR 2021 CKD EPI creatinine equation that estimates kidney function without a race variable. The task force also recommended increased use of cystatin C combined with creatinine as a confirmatory assessment of kidney function.
We urge all laboratories nationwide to adopt this newly modified equation to estimate GFR so that we can move towards more a consistent method of diagnosing kidney diseases.
The NKF would like to thank its Laboratory Engagement Initiative Workgroup for their efforts to develop tools to support laboratories implementing this new approach to calculating eGFR.
- Position Statement: U.S Pathology & Laboratory Society Leadership Endorse Use of CKD-EPI 2021 Race-free Equations for eGFR
- eGFR summary for ordering clinicians
- Not by Muscle, Race or Ethnicity: Practical use of Cystatin C to estimate GFR
- eGFR Results Messages
- eGFR 2021 CKD EPI creatinine equation that estimates kidney function without a race variable in NEJM paper
- NKF-ASN Task Force final report
- FAQs About GFR Estimates
- Laboratory guidance for implementing CKD-EPI 2021 race-free eGFR equations
- Patient information about kidney disease and eGFR testing
- Podcast -AACC/NKF Guidance on Improving Equity in Chronic Kidney Disease Care
The Laboratory Engagement Initiative, which is comprised of the National Kidney Foundation in collaboration with the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the laboratory community, and clinical laboratory societies, has developed content and tools that are aimed at advancing earlier diagnosis of chronic kidney disease as well as improvements in CKD laboratory testing.