Ailments & ConditionsYour Health

What Is Polycystic Kidney Disease

Diagnosis

As polycystic kidney disease is a genetic condition, a doctor often starts a diagnosis by examining the family history. He or she might ask a few questions about your medical history, symptoms, and lifestyles. A complete blood count is also needed to find out the presence of anemia or an infection. Another diagnostic test is a urinalysis, which can detect protein, bacteria, or blood in the urine. To diagnose all forms of polycystic kidney disease, some imaging techniques can be used to check for cysts in the kidneys and liver. These include a CT scan, an ultrasound, or an MRI scan.[5]