Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)/Serum Urea Test

A blood Urea Nitrogen Test is done as a part of the entire body checkup process. Doctors usually recommend it during the health screening process. It helps them see whether your kidneys are working properly or not.

Urea Nitrogen is the waste that your body creates after you eat. The liver breaks down the protein present in your food. This produces ammonia which also contains nitrogen. Nitrogen combines with other elements like hydrogen, carbon and oxygen to form urea. This is a chemical waste product. This substance travels through your blood and eventually ends up in your kidneys.

If you have healthy kidneys, they will release the BUN in the form of urine. Only a tiny amount of the same is kept in your blood. When your kidneys are unhealthy, they will fail to remove the adequate amount of BUN and leave an excessive amount of it in the blood.

The Blood Urea Nitrogen Procedure helps measure the amount of the waste product present in your blood. If your BUN Test levels are not normal, then it means that you have a problem in your liver or kidneys. People who are in the early stage of kidney disease might not have any symptoms. But, the BUN Test results can help diagnose the problem, which can uncover kidney problems from an early stage.

The doctor will want to see the Blood Urea Nitrogen Test results if- They suspect that you have kidney disease or damage, Your kidneys need to be evaluated because of certain chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, and you are getting a blood test group to diagnose many other conditions like urinary tract obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, congestive heart failure and liver damage, you are on a hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis treatment as BUN Test results will help determine the effectiveness of this treatment.

India faces a lot of chronic kidney diseases. The primary cause behind this is diabetic nephropathy. The treatment cost of the same is also very high in India, but efforts are being made to lower the costs of the same. Kidney problems due to the increase in BUN are majorly seen in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra.

Other names of Blood Urea Nitrogen test

• Urea Nitrogen Test
• Serum Bun Test

What does the blood urea nitrogen test detect or measure and who is it prescribed for?

The Blood Urea Nitrogen Profile Test measures the amount of urea in the blood. It is also used to understand whether your kidneys are functioning normally or not.

You might have abnormal BUN levels in your blood if you are facing the following conditions:

• Change in the frequency of your urination.
• Change in the amount of your urine.
• Urine that is bloody, foamy, discoloured or brown.
• Pain while urinating.
• Restless legs while sleeping.
• Fatigue and weakness.
• Pain in the mid-back section where kidneys are located.
• Swelling in your legs, arms, hands, ankles, around your eyes, abdomen or face.
• Muscle Cramps.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Dehydration.
• Urinary Tract Obstruction.

For people with such complaints, amongst other tests, the Blood Urea Nitrogen test is prescribed by the consulting doctor.

Some disease conditions for which the BUN Test is prescribed are:

• Diabetes.
• Heart Disease.
• High Blood Pressure.
• Family history of kidney problems.

Once the problem is diagnosed, the consulting doctor will initiate the treatment for the kidney or liver disease. The Blood Urea Nitrogen Test may be prescribed every month initially and then for 3 months or 6 months to regulate or change your medication.

 The Blood Urea Nitrogen Test is applicable for both males and females. Also, in certain cases, the test may be prescribed to teenagers and kids.

The average range of the Blood Urea Nitrogen Test is 7-17 mg/dL.

However, the normal ranges differ from lab to lab. Based on those, the high range or low range is calculated. Urea levels also increase with age, so infants have a lower range.

BUN Test Results that are higher than normal may indicate kidney problems. High levels also indicate:

• Urinary Tract Obstruction.
• Dehydration.
• Burn Injuries.
• Congestive heart failure.
• Heart attack.
• Gastrointestinal bleeding.

Low BUN Test results are also problematic. They indicate:

• Malnutrition.
• Liver Disease.
• Overhydration.

Although, further tests might be conducted to support the above diagnosis as only the BUN Test Results cannot confirm these.

The results of the BUN Profile Test are based on an analysis of your blood sample. You have to give a single blood sample for the same.

Test Preparation

Before scheduling the test, you must tell your doctor about any existing medication(s), dietary supplements or prescription drug(s) that you are taking. Some of these can affect the BUN Test results and so the doctor will modify your medication accordingly.

If you are only undergoing the Blood Urea Nitrogen Test procedure, you can eat or drink anything. Fasting is not required for this test, but if you are getting other tests done with it, you probably can’t eat or drink certain things. It is recommended to discuss this point with your doctor first.

During the test, a lab tech will take a sample of your blood from a vein of your arm or the back of your hand. You will just feel a slight sting when the needle goes through your skin.

Test Inclusions: What parameters are included?

The test measures the presence and amount of urea nitrogen in the blood.

This is the only parameter that is measured during the BUN Test. This value gives an idea about the functioning of the kidneys and whether their improper functioning is affecting any other area(s). The result of the Blood Urea Nitrogen Test is not expressed as positive or negative. The values are either on the higher side or the lower side, which indicates a disorder of the kidney or the liver.

However, the BUN Test cannot determine whether the kidney is completely damaged or not. Thus, if the BUN Test results are not normal, the doctor will tell you to take a Creatinine Test. This is also a blood test that reveals your kidney’s health as the Blood Urea Nitrogen Test cannot reveal much alone. Both the BUN range and the Creatinine range are compared side by side to give a better picture of what is happening with your kidneys.

How frequently should you take this test?

An annual Blood Urea Nitrogen Test helps diagnose kidney disease, liver damage or other conditions. If the results of the BUN Test confirm a diagnosis, you should consult a doctor for appropriate medication. Based on your diagnosis and medication, you will have to repeat the test every month or three months. This is done to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. The test can be annual if the previous BUN Profile test results turn out normal.

Kidney damage, Liver disease, High blood pressure