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Urea Nitrogen, Blood (BUN)

Urea Nitrogen, Blood (BUN)

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LAB140
BUN

Category

Chemistry

Methodology

Kinetic; Photometric

Test Performance Schedule

Sunday - Saturday

Result Availability

Within 24 hours

Specimen Required

Container

Gold top (SST), Red top (serum), or Green top (lithium heparin) tube

Volume

Pref. Vol.: 1.0 mL
Min. Vol.: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions

• Routine venipuncture

• Immediately after collection, gently invert tube 5-10 times

• Clot 30 minutes

• Promptly centrifuge 10 minutes

• If no gel barrier is present immediately transfer serum or plasma to a plastic tube and refrigerate

• Properly centrifuged gel barrier tube does not require transfer of serum or plasma to separate tube

Transportation Instructions

Refrigerated

Stability

• Room Temperature: 5 days

• Refrigerated: 5 days

Causes for Rejection

Do not use ammonium heparin

CPT Codes

84520

Effective/Revised

03/22/2017

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.

 

 

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