CREATINE KINASE TOTAL

CREATINE KINASE TEST

This test monitors the amount of creatine kinase (CK) level in the blood. Creatine Kinase is a type of enzyme. It is generally found in our skeletal muscles and heart, with lesser amounts in the brain. Skeletal muscles are the muscles attached to your skeleton. They work with your bones to help you move and give our body power and strength. Heart muscles pump blood in and out of the heart.

WHY SHOULD I GET TESTED?

This test measures the creatine kinase in the blood to detect and monitor muscle damage, to help diagnose conditions associated with muscle damage; for heart attack detection.

WHEN SHOULD I GET TESTED?

When you have muscle weakness, muscle aches, and/or dark urine and our healthcare practitioner suspects muscle damage; sometimes to monitor for muscle injury resolution or persistence

Why do I need this test?
A Creatine Kinase test is most often used to diagnose and monitor muscular injuries and diseases. These diseases include:

✔Muscular dystrophy, a rare inherited disorder that causes weakness, breakdown, and loss of function of skeletal muscles. It occurs primarily in males.
✔Rhabdomyolis, a rapid breakdown of muscle tissue. It can be caused by a serious injury, muscle disease, or other disorder.

The test can be used to help diagnose a heart attack, though not very often. CK testing used to be a common test for heart attacks. But another test, called troponin, has been found to be better at detecting heart damage.