A nurse is educating a client about the diagnostic evaluation of glomerulonephritis. Which laboratory finding is commonly associated with glomerulonephritis and is characterized by the presence of red blood cells in the urine?

A) Incorrect. Elevated serum creatinine is indicative of impaired kidney function but does not directly reflect the presence of red blood cells in the urine.

B) Incorrect. Hyperkalemia is an electrolyte imbalance that can occur in kidney disease but does not directly indicate hematuria.

C) Correct. Hematuria, the presence of red blood cells in the urine, is a common diagnostic finding in glomerulonephritis.

D) Incorrect. Hyponatremia is an electrolyte imbalance and is not a direct indicator of hematuria in glomerulonephritis.

A) Incorrect. Kidney biopsies are not primarily performed to assess electrolyte imbalances.

B) Incorrect. Identifying urinary tract infections can be done through other diagnostic methods, such as urinalysis and urine culture, and is not the primary purpose of a kidney biopsy.

C) Incorrect. While a kidney biopsy provides information about kidney function, its primary purpose in glomerulonephritis is to determine the underlying cause and assess the severity of kidney damage.

D) Correct. Kidney biopsies are essential for diagnosing glomerulonephritis because they help identify the specific type of glomerulonephritis, its cause, and the extent of renal damage.