AKI laboratory alert data
The UK Renal Registry (UKRR) collects Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) warning test scores and associated creatinine results to build a national picture of AKI in England.
These data underpin national AKI reporting and support clinical audit, quality improvement and research, helping healthcare teams understand patterns in AKI, variation between populations and patient outcomes.
Who does the dataset cover?
The dataset includes adults and children whose blood tests generate an AKI warning test score in laboratories in England. It includes tests requested in community and hospital settings.
Patients do not need to be receiving dialysis or under the care of a kidney centre to be included.
Clinical information about people receiving dialysis for AKI is collected through the CKD and KRT clinical dataset.
The collection includes:
- AKI warning test scores indicating stage 1, 2 or 3
- Associated creatinine results
- Patient identifiers and demographic information
Laboratory systems generate warning scores using a national algorithm that compares a person’s creatinine result with previous results. An alert indicates possible AKI and needs to be interpreted alongside the patient’s clinical circumstances.
Hospital laboratories in England are required to submit AKI warning test scores and accompanying patient information to the UKRR as part of the national collection.
Laboratories submit data monthly for the previous calendar month, with separate files containing warning test scores and associated creatinine results.
Information is transferred and stored securely, with access controlled under the UKRR’s data permissions.
Supporting national clinical audit
The UKRR brings laboratory alerts together to identify AKI episodes. Linking these records with Hospital Episode Statistics and mortality information helps describe hospital care and outcomes following AKI.
The data support comparisons of AKI rates, severity and outcomes across populations and clinical settings. Findings can help healthcare teams identify priorities for quality improvement.
The completeness of laboratory submissions affects the population covered and how findings can be interpreted. National AKI reports describe laboratory submission coverage, while the AKI data portal provides analyses by laboratory and Integrated Care Board.