Why it’s important, Sr. Creatinine (Serum Creatinine)

Sr. Creatinine (Serum Creatinine)

Serum creatinine is a blood test that measures the level of creatinine, a waste product from muscle metabolism, in the bloodstream.

Why it’s important

• Creatinine is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys.

• If kidneys are not working properly, creatinine builds up in the blood.

• It’s a key marker used to estimate GFR and assess kidney function before MRI contrast injections.

Normal serum creatinine range

(values may vary slightly by lab)

Group	Normal Range (mg/dL)
Adult men	0.7 – 1.3
Adult women	0.6 – 1.1
Children	0.3 – 0.7
Newborns	0.2 – 0.4

Relation to MRI contrast

• High serum creatinine → Lower GFR → Higher risk of gadolinium retention and NSF.

• MRI departments often check Sr. Creatinine before giving contrast, especially in:

  • Age > 60

  • History of kidney disease

  • Diabetes

  • Hypertension

  • Recent major surgery