Task Force on CKD – We have Come a Long Way

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is an important medical condition where diagnosis, staging and monitoring is largely based on routine laboratory tests. During the last 15 years there have been many important changes in the clinical management of CKD described in key international guidelines. In order to successfully implement these guidelines, laboratories must collaborate with clinicians to provide a co-ordinated service, including accurate measurements and of creatinine and urine albumin and reporting of an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The IFCC/WASPaLM Task Force on Chronic Kidney Disease (TF-CKD) was established in 2008 and since that time has worked to improve laboratory testing in CKD. Key aspects of the work of the TF-CKD include supporting national laboratory medicine organisations to develop CKD testing guidelines, recognition of the vital role of collaboration between laboratory and clinical organisations, the importance of accurate measurements, and endorsement of the KDIGO 2012 CKD guidelines. A key function of the TF-CKD has been to facilitate sharing and learning between countries to provide the best outcomes.