Experts Propose New Standards for Kidney Function Tests

Updating kidney health assessment methods could improve drug dosing safety for patients across the United States.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Diabetes

Isometric editorial illustration of a lone glass laboratory flask on a white surface, representing modern diagnostic standardization in medical practice. — Medical experts at Kidney Week 2026 are advocating for standardized eGFR-based kidney function tests to improve medication dosing accuracy across the United States. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should hospitals adopt new standardized biomarkers to determine medication doses for kidney health?

Experts at the 2026 Kidney Week conference in Denver are advocating for a shift in how kidney function is evaluated to standardize medication dosing. This proposed transition focuses on using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) instead of traditional creatinine-based methods.

Why it matters

Updating kidney health assessment methods is essential for improving medication safety and accuracy across the United States. Experts aim to replace older, less standardized formulas with more precise tools to ensure patients receive appropriate drug dosages.

Professional consensus presented at the 2026 Kidney Week highlights the limitations of using creatinine-based metrics for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) assessment. While creatinine is the primary marker currently in use, experts are pushing for a transition to GFR-based formulas to better guide clinical dosing.

The players

American Society of Nephrology

A professional medical organization that establishes clinical standards and guidelines for kidney care and disease management.

Erin Barreto

A medical researcher focused on kidney function biomarkers and their application in clinical practice.

The details

Functional biomarkers, such as Cystatin C, and structural biomarkers are used to evaluate kidney health and drug-associated harm. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation estimates GFR, which experts suggest should be re-expressed from mL/min/1.73 m² to mL/min to improve drug dosing accuracy. Clinical decision support systems must be updated with electronic health record integration to support this shift away from the legacy Cockcroft-Gault-based creatinine clearance.

October 21-25, 2026: The American Society of Nephrology held the Kidney Week conference in Denver, Colorado.

Health Landscape

This move toward standardized GFR-based assessment represents a departure from traditional creatinine clearance models that have long defined renal drug dosing. It aligns with the work of the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration to create more uniform standards across clinical care.

If you are managing a condition that requires precise medication dosing, it is worth discussing with your doctor how your kidney function is currently being assessed. Ask your provider whether your laboratory results use current standardized equations to ensure your dosages are calculated safely.

The takeaway

Standardizing kidney health assessments helps prevent medication errors and improves the accuracy of drug dosing. Keep a record of your recent lab tests and speak with your physician to ensure the most current GFR formulas are being applied to your clinical care.