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Serum creatinine is the most commonly used laboratory value to assess kidney function. Creatinine is a waste product produced from normal muscle metabolism and is excreted by the kidneys. When kidney function declines, the ability to filter out creatinine decreases, leading to elevated serum creatinine levels. This increase is a key indicator of renal impairment, making it a more specific marker for kidney function compared to other lab values.

Blood urea nitrogen, while also relevant in assessing kidney function, can be influenced by a variety of factors including dietary protein intake and hydration status. Therefore, it is not as specific for kidney function alone as serum creatinine.

Electrolytes provide information on the body’s balance of essential minerals but do not offer direct insight into kidney performance.

A complete blood count (CBC) primarily assesses hematologic parameters and does not provide information on kidney function.