Erythropoietin
(EPO) & The EPO Test

Medical Author: Siamak Nabili, MD, MPH
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

• What is erythropoietin (EPO)?
• Chemically, what is erythropoietin (EPO)?
• What exactly does erythropoietin (EPO) do?
• Is the kidney the sole source of erythropoietin (EPO)?
• Why is an erythropoietin (EPO) test performed?
• How is the erythropoietin (EPO) test performed?
• What are normal erythropoietin (EPO) levels?
• What does an abnormal erythropoietin (EPO) level indicate?
• Can person without a medical disease or condition have a high erythropoietin (EPO) level?
• Is erythropoietin (EPO) available as a prescribed medication?
• What are the clinical uses of erythropoietin (EPO)?
• Erythropoietin (EPO) At A Glance

What is erythropoietin?

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone produced by the kidney that promotes the formation of red blood cells by the bone marrow.

The kidney cells that make erythropoietin are specialized so that they are sensitive to low oxygen levels in the blood that travels through the kidney. These cells make and release erythropoietin when the oxygen level is too low. The low oxygen level may indicate anemia, a diminished number of red blood cells, or hemoglobin molecules that carry oxygen through the body.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• epoetin alfa, Epogen, Procrit - Explains the medication epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit), a drug used to treat anemia (low red blood cell count) that is associated with chronic kidney failure in patients who are or will be receiving renal dialysis.
• Hemoglobin - Read about hemoglobin - the protein molecule in red blood cells. Learn what normal, low, and high level hemoglobin counts mean on MedicineNet.com
• Kidney Failure - Learn about kidney failure, in which the body has fluid retention, risen blood pressure, toxin build up and lack of red blood cells. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, and apetite loss.

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