Test guide
Renin Test
This test measures the level of renin in your blood. Renin is an enzyme, a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions in your body. It's made by your kidneys. When your blood pressure or sodium decreases or your potassium increases, your kidneys release renin. That's because renin also acts as a hormone (a chemical messenger in your bloodstream that controls the actions of certain cells or organs) to help control your blood pressure.
What it is for
A renin test (or renin and aldosterone test) is used to find out if your adrenal glands are making too much or too little aldosterone. The test is especially useful in diagnosing primary aldosteronism (PA), a disease caused by having too much aldosterone. PA, also known as primary hyperaldosteronism or Conn syndrome, causes high blood pressure . If not treated, high blood pressure may increase your risk of stroke , heart attack , and kidney failure . Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Medical test information is public domain. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Limitations
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also known as
- renin blood test, plasma renin activity (PRA) aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR)
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