Cystatin C Control
Cystatin C is a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, a small molecule that is produced by nucleated cells (cells with a nuclei containing genetic material). It is produced and destroyed at a constant rate and found in a variety of body fluids such as blood, spinal fluid, and breast milk. Cystatin C is filtered out of the blood by the glomeruli, which are clusters of tiny blood vessels in the kidneys that allow water, dissolved substances, and wastes to pass through their walls while retaining blood cells and larger proteins.
| Product Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Format | Stable Liquid |
| Shelf Life | 36 Months at 2-8°C |
| Typical Fill Sizes |
|---|
| 1mL |
| Custom Fill Sizes |
|---|
| Available |
What passes through the glomerulus walls forms a filtrate fluid. The body then reabsorbs Cystatin C, glucose, and some other substances from the filtrate, while allowing the remaining substances to be carried with the fluid to the bladder and eventually out of the body as urine. The Cystatin C that is reabsorbed when the glomerular filtrate is formed is broken down and is not returned to the blood. When the filtrate formation rate is reduced (as a result of decreased kidney function), blood levels of substances removed by them (such as Cystatin C) increase and are an indication of how well a patient’s kidneys are functioning. There has been interest in the Cystatin C test as one method of evaluating kidney function because it is not affected by muscle mass, gender, age, or race, unlike creatinine. When the kidneys are functioning normally, concentrations of Cystatin C in the blood are stable, but as kidney function deteriorates, concentrations begin to rise. This increase occurs as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) falls and is often detectible before there is a measurable decrease in the GFR. While there is an increasing amount of data in the literature supporting the use of Cystatin C to measure kidney function, there is still a degree of uncertainty about when and how it should be used.
