CK Blood Test - More Information

The creatine kinase test, also known as a CK blood test, creatine kinase blood test, CK test and CK level test, measures the CK blood level.

Creatine kinase is an enzyme that is associated with muscle damage and inflammation - a form of which is commonly known as rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo). Creatine kinase plays an important role in helping muscles contract through the help of an energy source known as ATP. Creatine kinase in the blood can originate from different types of muscles and, historically, specific forms of it have been used to check for heart muscle damage after a heart attack.

CK blood testing has been of interest in recent years with the rise of organized fitness programs that center around intensive, shorter exercise regimens using higher intensity and heavier weights. In some people, such extreme exertion without proper training can lead to a condition called rhabdomyolysis. In rhabdomyolysis, excessive muscle damage can lead to kidney damage and is typically characterized by high creatine kinase and myoglobin test levels.

To get a CK blood test near you, order online and get your blood drawn at the Quest Diagnostics lab that you selected. Once your total creatine kinase test lab report is ready, it will be available for download. As can be seen on the sample CK blood test lab results, the total creatine kinase blood level will be reported as a number and can be compared against the reference range provided by the lab.