eGFR estimates how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your blood. It is one of the main numbers used to check kidney health. Here is how to read your eGFR and what a low value can point to, in plain language.
eGFR stands for estimated glomerular filtration rate. Your kidneys contain tiny filters called glomeruli that clean waste and extra fluid out of your blood. eGFR is a calculation, usually based on a blood creatinine result along with your age and sex, that estimates how much blood those filters clean each minute.
A higher eGFR generally means better filtering. An eGFR of 60 or above is generally considered normal if there are no other signs of kidney damage. An eGFR below 60 that lasts for three months or more can be a sign of kidney disease, and a value below 15 can mean kidney failure. A single low reading is not a diagnosis on its own, because eGFR can change with hydration, muscle mass, and other factors.
A low eGFR suggests the kidneys may not be filtering as well as expected. Diabetes and high blood pressure are common contributors, but many things affect the result. Your clinician usually repeats the test, may check a urine test for protein, and looks at the trend over time rather than one value.
Upload a photo or PDF of your metabolic panel and Mednex reads your eGFR and the rest back to you in plain language, then tracks it so your next result compares against this one.
Decode my labsContent last reviewed 9 July 2026. Reference ranges vary by laboratory; always read your results against the range printed on your own report.
This page explains a common lab marker in general terms using public information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and other NIH sources. It is educational and is not a diagnosis or medical advice. Reference ranges differ between laboratories and the meaning of a result depends on your age, sex, medications, and overall health. Always discuss your own results with the clinician who ordered them.