Glomerular Filtration Rate Test (GFR)

A glomerular filtration rate test (GFR) is a test to look at how well the kidneys filter blood. The GFR allows the nuclear medicine physician to assess the degree of kidney impairment and to follow the course of kidney disease. However, the GFR provides no information on the cause of the kidney disease.

Indications:  

• Patients who are undergoing chemotherapy
• Patients who have had a renal transplant
• Evaluation of renal donors

What happens during the procedure?

• A nuclear medicine technologist will place two IVs, one for injecting and one for blood draws
  • If you child has a central line, that can be used in place of one IV for the blood draws
• Our radiology nurse will hydrate your child with Saline through one of the IVs
• A tiny amount of the radiopharmaceutical will be injected into one of the IVs and the first IV will be removed immediately after
• There will be blood draws from the IV after the injection at-
  • 5 minutes
  • 15 minutes
  • 25 minutes
  • 2hours
  • 3 hours
  • 4hours
• Between the blood draws that have long delays, you and your child can leave the department and return at the times communicated by the nuclear medicine technologist
• After the 4th hour, the nuclear medicine technologist will draw the last blood sample and remove the IV and you are all done!

Patient Preparation

• In most cases, no special preparation is needed

Example Images