Kidney function education
Creatinine Unit Converter: mg/dL ↔ µmol/L
Convert serum creatinine between mg/dL and µmol/L before using a formula that requires a particular unit.
This is not a kidney-function calculation or a test of whether creatinine is normal. Additional displayed decimals do not increase laboratory precision. Do not replace an original laboratory record with a rounded conversion.
Method and equation
The conversion factor is 1 mg/dL = 88.4 µmol/L. Multiply by 88.4 to convert mg/dL to µmol/L and divide by 88.4 for the reverse direction. Unit conversion changes the notation, not the concentration or the biological result. The original laboratory number and unit should remain available for checking.
1 mg/dL = 88.4 µmol/L
How to use this tool
- Copy serum creatinine and its unit from the laboratory report. Choose the input unit and enter the number. Use the converted value only if another tool explicitly requires the other unit.
- Review the original report, earlier results and relevant urine tests with a qualified clinician before making a care decision.
Worked example
1.2 mg/dL × 88.4 = 106.08 µmol/L, displayed as about 106.1. Conversely, 106.1 µmol/L ÷ 88.4 is about 1.200 mg/dL. Rounding can prevent an exact round trip.
Understanding the result
µmol/L values are roughly 88 times the equivalent mg/dL values. Entering 106 as mg/dL instead of µmol/L produces an invalid clinical interpretation. Prefer a calculator that accepts the original laboratory unit.
Limitations and safety
- This is not a kidney-function calculation or a test of whether creatinine is normal. Additional displayed decimals do not increase laboratory precision. Do not replace an original laboratory record with a rounded conversion.
- Educational use only. A result cannot diagnose disease or choose a medicine dose. Do not delay urgent care for symptoms or rapidly changing kidney results.
Sources
Method and explanations checked against the sources below on October 14, 2026. This is editorial and technical verification, not a physician review. External sources may be in English.