This test is aslo known as BUN to Creatinine Ratio, Blood urea nitrogen, BUN, serum BUN, Urea Nitrogen BUN, Urea Test.
A blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood which helps your healthcare providr in determining how well your kidneys are working.
Urea, often called urea nitrogen which is a waste product and is created in the liver when the body breaks down proteins. This urea is then transported to the kidneys & the kidneys filter out this waste, and remove from your body in your urine.
If your liver isn't healthy, it may not break down proteins the way it should. And if your kidneys aren't healthy, they may not properly filter urea. Either of these conditions can lead to larger amounts of BUN (blood urea nitrogen) in your body. However, even if your kidneys are working properly, you may have an elevated BUN levels because of the following:
- High-protein diet.
- Dehydration.
- Aging (infants and children have lower BUN levels).
- Certain medications, including carbamazepine, methotrexate and tetracycline.
- Burns.
- Blockage in your urinary system that prevents you from peeing.
- Stress.
- Heart attack.
- Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
Despite the fact that low BUN levels are not common but you may have low BUN levels because of the following:
- Low-protein diet.
- Small body type.
- Overhydration (too much water in your body).
- Liver disease.
What levels of urea nitrogen signals a kidney failure?
BUN test is not for interpreting a kidney failure but if your BUN levels and creatinine (a waste product from muscle tissue breakdown) are higher than your baseline, then kidney failure is likely.
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Your healthcare provider may order a BUN test to help diagnose the severity of kidney problems when he or she suspects that you have kidney dysfunction based on the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Itchiness
- Joint or bone pain
- Muscle cramps
- Restless legs while you're trying to sleep
- Swelling in the arms or legs
- Urging to urinate more or less often
Many of you may not have symptoms of kidney disease immediately. So your doctor may recommend a BUN test for other reasons may be:
- A part of a your routine health checkups to find out how your kidneys are working.
- To monitor your situation during or after treatment for conditions like diabetes.
- To determine the effectiveness of dialysis treatment.
- A part of regular checkups, during hospital stays.
No special preparations required.
None
Same day or next day
A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm known as "Vanipuncture".
Sample report in a format
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