The chronic kidney disease screening pilot implemented in cooperation by the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, AstraZeneca Oy* and Fimlab will continue. In autumn 2026, all who turn 65 this year across the Pirkanmaa region will be invited to participate in the screening programme. Early-stage chronic kidney disease usually causes no symptoms, which means the condition can easily go undetected unless it is specifically screened for.

Fimlab participated in the chronic kidney disease screening pilot carried out together with the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa (Pirha) and AstraZeneca during 2024–2025. At that time, 55-year-old residents of Pirkanmaa living in the catchment areas of selected health and social care centres were invited to participate. Nearly 50% of those invited attended screening sample collection at Fimlab. Of those who participated, 5.9% received a positive screening result, and their diagnosis and treatment continued within Pirha’s primary healthcare services.

The chronic kidney disease screening pilot will now continue. In September 2026, all residents of Pirkanmaa who turn 65 this year will receive an invitation to participate in the free screening programme. Participation is voluntary, but experts particularly encourage people in at-risk groups to take part, including those with diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

The aim of the pilot is to determine the most appropriate age group for screening and to detect the asymptomatic disease at an early stage, before it begins to affect quality of life and overall health. Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common yet least recognised chronic diseases: as many as one in ten adults are affected, often without being aware of it. ⁽¹

Read more about the pilot at: pirha.fi/seulontapilotti (in Finnish)

*The Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa (Pirha) is the lead organisation responsible for the screening pilot. The project partners are Fimlab Laboratoriot Oy and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca Oy. AstraZeneca Oy acts as a partial funder of the development work related to the project. AstraZeneca Oy does not participate in or fund the statutory responsibilities of the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, such as the provision or funding of laboratory testing or patient care. AstraZeneca Oy does not participate in the processing of personal data relating to individuals taking part in the screening programme, and no personal data is transferred to AstraZeneca.

⁽¹ Suomen Nefrologiyhdistyksen asettama työryhmä. Kroonisen munuaistaudin varhainen tunnistaminen ja hoito – Suomen strategia. Helsinki: Suomen Nefrologiyhdistys; 2025.