PKD is an inherited disorder. Therefore, your healthcare provider will probably review your family history. They may initially order:
-- a complete blood count (CBC) looking for anemia or signs of infection
-- a urinalysis looking for blood and/or protein

Your health care provider may use imaging tests to look for cysts of the kidney, liver, and other organs. Imaging tests used to diagnose PKD include:
abdominal MRI scan: uses strong magnets to image your body to visualize kidney structure and look for cysts
abdominal ultrasound: uses sound waves to see inside your body
intravenous pyelogram (IVP): uses a dye to make your blood vessels show up more clearly on an X-ray
abdominal ultrasound: the most useful, non-invasive study using sound waves to look for cysts
abdominal CT scan: can detect smaller cysts in the kidney; uses X-rays to build a cross-section of your abdomen