A blood urea nitrogen test is a non-invasive blood test that shows how well the kidneys filter out the nitrogenous waste from the blood. The amount of urea nitrogen in the blood depends on factors like hydration, protein catabolism, and renal dysfunctions. Generally, the normal range of urea nitrogen in the blood of a healthy person is 5 to 20 mg/dl. Above this number, the patient’s kidneys might not be healthy.
Factors on which urea nitrogen range depends include
The range is wide because of normal variations due to protein intake,
- 1. Protein catabolism (endogenous factor)
- 2. Body hydration
- 3. Amount of hepatic urea synthesis
- 4. Excretion amount of renal urea.
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How Do I Prepare for the Test?
Unlike other diagnostic tests, the blood urea nitrogen test does not require special preparations. However, the person going for the test must keep in mind the following things;
- 1. Stay calm- This is just a blood test
- 2. Stay hydrated- Dehydrated body can result in false positive results
- 3. Normal diet- No need to stop eating or drinking prior to the test
- 4. Medications– Inform the doctor about your ongoing medications.
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What Happens During the Test?
BUN test is a simple and safe test in which the lab specialist will take your blood from the vein of the arm after sterilising the area.
- 1. A blood sample is taken from the vein
- 2. Blood is taken to the lab
- 3. Examined for the amount of urea nitrogen present
- 4. The report is prepared and sent to the doctor or directly received by the patient
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The blood sample collected will be sent to the lab for examination. After the blood sample collection, you can resume your normal activities. The procedure is painless. The reports for the BUN test will be delivered within 24 hours of sample collection.
Understanding BUN Results
Urea is a nitrogenous waste of the body, and it is toxic if accumulated in the body. Our human body has a special mechanism to filter the nitrogenous waste out using kidneys. However, in case of renal problems, kidney damage due to high blood pressure or diabetes or kidney failures, kidneys cannot filter the blood completely. The urea nitrogen recirculates in the body through the blood and creates further problems. Hence, It is important to take the BUN test if you are in doubt about kidney damage, to avoid further complications and prevent the kidney damage from becoming worse.
What Can High BUN Levels Mean?
High BUN levels indicate that the kidney is not filtering out the nitrogenous waste properly. Generally, the normal range of urea nitrogen in the blood of a healthy person is 5 to 20 mg/dl. Above this number is considered a high BUn level, and doctors suspect that the patient’s kidneys might not be healthy.
Why do I need a BUN test?
When the doctor suspects any of the following conditions in a patient, he or she asks for a BUN test.
- 1. Renal problems,
- 2. Kidney damage (due to metabolic diseases or trauma or injury)
- 3. High blood pressure
- 4. Diabetes
- 5. kidney failures
- 6. kidneys cannot filter the blood completely
-
What happens during a BUN test?
Just like a simple blood test, the BUN test also involves taking a blood sample from the vein of one of the arms. The blood sample is taken to the lab, and serum is extracted. The serum of the patient is examined for the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are the factors on which urea nitrogen range depends
Factors on which urea nitrogen range depends include,
- 1. Protein catabolism (endogenous factor)
- 2. Body hydration
- 3. Amount of hepatic urea synthesis
- 4. Excretion amount of renal urea.
-
Q.2 How Do I Prepare for the Test?
Unlike other diagnostic tests, the blood urea nitrogen test does not require special preparations. However, the person going for the test must keep in mind the following things;
- 1. Stay calm- This is just a blood test
- 2. Stay hydrated- Dehydrated body can result in false positive results
- 3. Normal diet- No need to stop eating or drinking prior to the test
- 4. Medications– Inform the doctor about your ongoing medications.
-
Q.3 What Happens During the Test?
BUN test is a simple and safe test in which the lab specialist will take your blood from the vein of the arm after sterilising the area.
-
- 1. A blood sample is taken from the vein
- 2. Blood is taken to the lab
- 3. Examined for the amount of urea nitrogen present
- The report is prepared and sent to the doctor or directly received by the patient
The procedure is painless. The reports for the BUN test will be delivered within 24 hours of sample collection.
Q.4 What Can High BUN Levels Mean?
High BUN levels indicate that the kidney is not filtering out the nitrogenous waste properly. Generally, the normal range of urea nitrogen in the blood of a healthy person is 5 to 20 mg/dl. Above this number is considered a high BUn level, and doctors suspect that the patient’s kidneys might not be healthy.
Q.5 Why do I need a BUN test?
When the doctor suspects any of the following conditions in a patient, he or she asks for a BUN test.
- 1. Renal problems,
- 2. Kidney damage (due to metabolic diseases or trauma or injury)
- 3. High blood pressure
- 4. Diabetes
- 5. Kidney failures
- 6. Kidneys cannot filter the blood completely
-
Q.6 What happens during a BUN test?
Just like a simple blood test, the BUN test also involves taking a blood sample from the vein of one of the arms. The blood sample is taken to the lab, and serum is extracted. The serum of the patient is examined for the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood.
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