A kidney biopsy may be done to:

- Diagnose a kidney problem that can't otherwise be identified
- Help develop treatment plans based on the kidney's condition
- Determine how quickly kidney disease is progressing
- Determine the extent of damage from kidney disease or another disease
- Evaluate how well treatment for kidney disease is working
- Find out why a transplanted kidney isn't working properly

Your doctor may recommend a kidney biopsy based on the results of blood or urine tests. Some common reasons for kidney biopsy include:
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Protein in the urine (proteinuria) that's excessive, rising or accompanied by other signs of kidney disease
- Problems with kidney function, leading to excessive waste products in the blood


Not everyone with these problems needs a kidney biopsy. The decision is based on your signs and symptoms, test results and overall health.