What is a common laboratory test for assessing kidney function?

The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test is a standard laboratory test used to evaluate kidney function. It measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood, which is a waste product formed from the metabolism of proteins. The kidneys play a crucial role in filtering out urea from the blood, and elevated levels of BUN can indicate impaired kidney function or kidney disease. This test is often used in conjunction with other assessments, such as serum creatinine levels, to provide a more comprehensive view of kidney health.

A complete blood count primarily assesses overall health and can help detect various conditions, such as infections or blood disorders, but it does not specifically evaluate kidney function. Liver function tests assess the performance of the liver and are not relevant for kidney evaluation. An electrolyte panel does provide important information regarding the balance of electrolytes in the body, which can be affected by kidney function, but it does not directly measure kidney performance like the BUN test does. Therefore, the BUN test is the specific and common choice for assessing kidney function among these options.