A kidney biopsy is a procedure where a needle is used to take a tiny piece (sample) of one of your child’s kidneys or their kidney transplant.
The sample is examined under a microscope. The amount of kidney taken during a biopsy is around half the size of a matchstick and removing it will not affect how well your child’s kidney works.
Why does my child need a kidney biopsy?
Your child’s paediatric nephrologist may recommend a kidney biopsy because blood tests or urine tests suggest that their kidneys or kidney transplant may not be working normally. A biopsy allows doctors to look inside your child’s kidney to see where the problem may be. This can help the doctor find out the cause of the problem and plan the best treatment for your child.
Sometimes a biopsy is used to check how well a treatment that your child is currently having is working, or to check for any problems in a kidney transplant.
Most of the time, a kidney biopsy is planned in advance. Occasionally, it needs to be done urgently while your child is in hospital.
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