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Blood Urea Nitrogen
Test CodeBUN
Alias/See Also
Urea Nitrogen
CPT Codes
84520
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL plasma collected in a PST (LiHeparin tube)
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Plasma - EDTA (Lavender Top)
Serum- SST (Red Top or Tiger Top)
Urine - Sterile Cup, B-D urine foley and BD specimen cup collection kit. May be random or 24-hr collection. No preservative needed.
Serum- SST (Red Top or Tiger Top)
Urine - Sterile Cup, B-D urine foley and BD specimen cup collection kit. May be random or 24-hr collection. No preservative needed.
Specimen Stability
Room Temperature: Plasma \Serum 7 days at 15-25°C Urine 2 days at 15-25°C Refrigerated: Plasma \Serum 7 days at 2-8°C Urine 7 days at 2-8°C Frozen: Plasma/Serum 1 year at -20°C Urine 1 months at -20°C
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Grossly Hemolyzed, Lipemic, and Icteric are unacceptable.
Samples not labeled with complete first name, last name, and date of birth.
Samples not labeled with complete first name, last name, and date of birth.
Methodology
Kinetic
Setup Schedule
Mon-Sun
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
Serum or Plasma 1 – 336 mg/dL
Urine: 3 – 10,080 mg/ dL
Urine: 3 – 10,080 mg/ dL
Clinical Significance
Urea is the major end product of protein nitrogen metabolism. It is synthesized by the urea cycle in the liver from ammonia which is produced by amino acid deamination. Urea is excreted mostly by the kidneys, but minimal amounts are also excreted in sweat and degraded in the intestines by bacterial action. Determination of blood urea nitrogen is the most widely used screening test for renal function. When used in conjunction with serum creatinine determinations, it can aid in the differential diagnosis of the three types of azotemia: prerenal, renal, and postrenal. Elevations in blood urea nitrogen concentration are seen in inadequate renal perfusion, shock, diminished blood volume (prerenal causes), chronic nephritis, nephrosclerosis, tubular necrosis, glomerular nephritis (renal causes), and urinary tract obstruction (postrenal causes). Transient elevations may also be seen during periods of high protein intake. Unpredictable levels occur with liver diseases.
Performing Laboratory
Frederick Health Laboratory
400 W 7th Street
Frederick, MD 21701
Last Updated: November 28, 2023