Is testing for erythropoietin (EPO) a standard test or part of a CBC or CMP?

[Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN]

Is testing for erythropoietin a common test related to kidney function? I don't think it is and I don't recall every really hearing or seeing anything about it much. I'm working on a care map and I'm kind of seeing a connection in my mind between my patients history of kidney dysfunction and a link to her low HGB/HCT.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003683.htm

The hormone acts on stem cells in the bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells. It is made by cells in the kidney, which release the hormone when oxygen levels are low.

But then I start to think to myself what useful information would this test provide to enhance the patients care that isn't already covered in the standard test? Probably nothing, it would only increase her cost, which is why it probably isn't routinely ordered.

And who knows maybe I'm totally thinking left field here and I'd love to be set on the right track by someone that knows more. But I'm kind of proud of myself for finally being able to see how different puzzle pieces fit together and turn into one whole patient that I'm suppose to treat holistically.

[Rob27, BSN, RN]

The kidney's almost sole end goal is to control blood volume. It does this through all the little jobs that it does along the way like filtration, waste removal, etc. I would say that you are on the right track, you're just going the wrong way.

Anemia is very common in people with kidney dysfunction. So, bad kidney causes the anemia, anemia doesn't cause the dysfunction.

I guess to answer your question, if someone is anemic, the answer could be the kidney.