Which laboratory value is commonly used to assess kidney function?

The commonly used laboratory value to assess kidney function is serum creatinine. Creatinine is a waste product that is produced by muscle metabolism and is normally removed from the bloodstream by the kidneys. Measuring the level of creatinine in the blood provides insight into how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. Elevated levels of serum creatinine can indicate impaired kidney function or kidney disease, making it a key marker in assessing renal health.

The other options serve different purposes. Blood glucose measures the level of sugar in the blood and is primarily used to diagnose and manage diabetes. Liver enzymes are assessed to evaluate liver function and detect liver diseases. A complete blood count provides information about various components of the blood, like red and white blood cells but does not specifically evaluate kidney function. Thus, serum creatinine is the most relevant choice for assessing kidney performance.