Howdy, first post.
2 years in Dialysis, usually after the dialysis session its around kt/v is 1.5 - 1.7. Lately last few weeks it goes into the 4.0-4.3 range.
It's Saturday so I can't call the doc. Does this mean I'm crashing or miraculously my kidneys are a tad better? I ask as I made some food and liquid changes. Seriously watching phosphorous levels in the 8's to low 7's.
Anyway, hope everyone is well, and hope I get an answer.
How do you know what your Kt/v number is.....What type of Dialysis are you doing ?
I’m doing hemo and they told me they check the blood before and after dialysis to calculate k/tV unlike PD which uses 24 hour urine and blood.
Thanks horsie...good to know
The dialysis machine. Gives a read out of many values. I was told 1.4 kt/v is minimum. After the session, you can get total kt/v and many other variables, time spent, heparin amount etc., etc
Edit to add. I too am on Hemo, 3 times a week, 3.5 hours. per day. I'm labeled end stage.
There is a lot that goes into calculating whether or not your dialysis is working, improving or not. Please call the doctor because that is a major increase. Make sure you share what changes you made because so much factors in especially fluids.
They use heparin in hemo? I knew they used it in PD although I never did as I didn't have any fibrin.
Yeah, they have increased mine over time. I want to say it reads 1500? on hepparin. The techs also read back amounts aloud to nurse, before the start button is pushed, and then the screens you can touch to look up metrics.. I hope they don't use 1500ML on me. Maybe I'm at risk of clotting, no clue. Doctors never tell you what you really want to know... 
Many folks have the tech, move the machine screen so they can see, temperature (you can ask for hotter blood return), heart rate, blood pressure, etc. All the metrics are there, even pressures with in fill line vs extract line, vein vs artery, or whatever the "super vein" is.
Special hint... Make sure before they stick ya, make sure they are the right gauge needles. They are colored. Had one on a 14 gauge one day (i'm a 16) my word, took forever to get it to stop bleeding after pulling needles. 
How do they determine what gauge needle to use?
I'm a smaller gent 5' 7". I would think (just guessing) it is based on how large the super vein is. I started on 18's. As the fistula matured and got fatter, I went from 17's then to 16's. Many large folks run the 14 gauge, especially if they have a "graft". Mine is just a fistula, no nonhuman components in my arm.
Lol I’m 4’9 and currently weigh 85 pounds. So pretty much the size of a 12 year old.
I am on PD...but in order to get kt/v it requires 24 hr urine ...blood sample and daily readings of treatments...I would think thats good news if your kt/v is increasing..For PD to be adequate we have to get above 1.7...I usually run 3.62...the Nurses say that is very good...thry cut my treatments from 7 1/2 hrs to 5 hrs...maybe they will reduce your treatment a bit if your kt/v stays where it is
Kt/v at levels of 4 is excellent improvement. Phosphorus levels in 7s-8s is too high. Most labs say anything over 5.0 to 5.5 is too high and should be lowered with diet and/or binders. I do dialysis 6-7 hours per time at 4-6 days per week. With NO residual function. My kt/v levels are generally 3.5 ^ to 4.5. Nocturnal HHD often have these results. Time and slower blood flow rates offer some of the best results. Just my humble opinion. In my 22nd year of HHD. Blessings
I can't even comment on this yet as after 11 months on PD I've yet to pass my kt/v test. I'm flunking dialysis, again....
They did blood work Tuesday and today I had to redo it cause I “failed “ my ktv. I was so surprised I forgot to ask what it was as I’d not failed before. Plus this all so new and I’m still trying to figure out what all the numbers mean.
I currently do 3 hours so if it was PD I’d have my time increased. I’m assuming same for hemo? Hate that thought as I might have to stop working if it increases too much.
You need to tell your clinic next time just do a 24 hour urine instead of the 48 maybe it will calculate differnt ((maybe))
Sounds like you are on the right prescription for your dialysis in the 4 are great score. I seem just to pass my info the 24 hour urine and bring in fluid from drain bag and they take blood I’m on pd dialysis last one was only 1.85
Abit about me&some questions as I’m new to this :) 
question about patient care at dialysis
Home dialysis question
