Summary of the essential investigations to evaluate a decline in kidney function
| Blood tests | Renal profile with eGFR |
| Full blood count | |
| Bone profile | |
| Bedside | Blood pressure |
| Urine | Urine dipstick for blood, protein, nitrites and leucocytes |
| Urine culture and sensitivity | |
| Urine protein–creatinine ratio | |
| Urine albumin–creatinine ratio | |
| Imaging | Ultrasound: kidney, ureters and bladder (to assess kidney size; for masses, cysts or hydronephrosis) |
| Immunology | Immunoglobulins and electrophoresis, ANCA, C3 and C4, ANA, dsDNA antibody, anti-GBM antibody, anti-PLA2R antibodya |
↵aSpecific to cases of nephrotic syndrome. ANA = antinuclear antibodies; ANCA = anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies; C3 = complement component 3; C4 = complement component 4; dsDNA = anti-double stranded DNA; eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate; GBM = glomerular basement membrane; PLA2R = phospholipase A2 receptor.