Kidney Biopsy: What It Involves
How a kidney biopsy is performed, why it is needed, and what recovery is like.
Last updated: 2026-09-24
A kidney biopsy takes a tiny sample of kidney tissue with a thin needle so a pathologist can determine the exact cause of damage.
Why it is done
It diagnoses glomerular diseases and unexplained kidney failure when blood and urine tests are insufficient.
Frequently asked questions
Is a kidney biopsy painful?
There may be brief discomfort, but local anaesthetic keeps it tolerable.