test Details

Protein balance, Kidney function

During the process of digestion, the body breaks down proteins. Ammonia is a by-product of this reaction. It contains nitrogen, which usually mixes with elements in the body like oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen to form urea.

Urea is a waste product that is eliminated from the body by the kidneys in the form of urine. The urine urea nitrogen test is conducted to check for urea levels in the urine. This helps give an understanding of the protein breakdown and allows you to know how well the kidneys are functioning. It is also a measure of protein intake, allowing you to know if it is either too high or low. The urea nitrogen urine test can also offer insights into gut health and tell you if there are issues with protein digestion.

The urine urea nitrogen test will also let you know how much protein the body gets through food. It can tell if an individual is receiving adequate amounts of protein and how much protein is required for healthy functioning.

It is common for this test to be prescribed to check for kidney health and especially to ascertain whether ongoing medical treatments are working.

Some of the reasons the test may be prescribed include:

• Monitoring of any kidney disease.
• To check for the presence of kidney disease.
• Assess kidney functioning.
• Diagnose disorders and diseases that lead to kidney dysfunction.
• Follow-up of tests that reveal irregular protein levels.
• Follow-up for tests indicating kidney failure.

Your physician may also prescribe a Blood Urine Nitrogen (BUN) test along with the urine urea nitrogen test. Some other tests that may also be prescribed include:

• Blood creatine
• Blood albumin to creatinine ratio
• Blood protein to creatinine ratio

Other names of Urine Urea Nitrogen Test

• Urea Nitrogen Urine Test 24 hrs
• Urea Nitrogen 24-Hour Urine

What does the Test Measures, and Who is it Prescribed for?

The urine urea nitrogen test measures urea levels observed in the urine.

The test may be advised for those who have the following health conditions:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Family history of kidney disease

The urea urine nitrogen test is also conducted along with other tests to rule out other medical conditions like:

• Congestive heart failure
• Liver damage
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Severe malnutrition
• Urinary tract obstruction

It is common for your physician to prescribe the urine urea nitrogen test when they notice one or more of the following symptoms:

• Weakness
• Muscular cramps
• Vomiting or nausea
• Extreme fatigue
• Swelling on the stomach, arms, face, or legs, or around the eyes
• Frequent urination
• Foamy, or coffee-coloured urine

The ranges of the urine urea nitrogen test are common for males and females.

How can I lower my urine urea levels?

You should consult your doctor on the best ways to lower your urea levels. Some simple techniques may include:

• Including more fibre into your diet
• Reducing protein intake
• Increasing the number of fluids consumed
• Reducing salt in the food
• Limiting alcohol and avoiding smoking

The normal ranges of the urine urea nitrogen test may differ marginally from one laboratory to another. It is important to show your test report to the doctor so that they can interpret it in the context of your age, lifestyle, and medical history.

Normally, lower values in the urine urea nitrogen report indicate:

• A protein-deficient diet
• Malnutrition in certain extreme cases
• Kidney ailments
• Absorption problem

When the values are higher than the normal range, it could be the result of:

• Excess protein intake
• Too much protein breakdown

Suppose your values are either higher or lower than the suggested reference ranges. In that case, you may require further testing or investigation to rule out health conditions or gain a better understanding of the report.

The results of the urine urea nitrogen test depend on a series of urine samples collected over a span of 24 hours.

Test Preparation

The urine urea nitrogen test is fairly simple, with no special cautions or requirements. It is essential to inform your doctor about all medication being consumed, since there may be modifications to some. Your doctor may also advise that you temporarily stop medication so that it doesn’t interfere with the test results.

You will need to collect a number of sterile urine sample containers from a lab or your doctor’s clinic. Once you have them, you will need to:

• Pass your first-morning urine without collecting it.
• Collect every subsequent urine sample over exactly 24 hours, noting the time.
• Hand in your labelled urine samples to the clinic or laboratory after collecting 24-hour samples.

It is important to store your urine samples in a refrigerator or cooler to preserve their quality and maintain their viability. Take the samples to the lab as soon as you have collected all the required samples.

Test Inclusions: What Parameters are Included

A urine urea nitrogen report will give you the value of urea present in the urine. This is the only value that the test reveals. It gives an insight into the health of kidney functioning, overall digestive health, and protein intake of the individual. Higher or lower levels can show irregularities in kidney functioning and may also give insights into the dietary needs of the individual.

This test is an indicator of certain functions and ailments. Further investigations may be advised depending on the results of the urea urine nitrogen test.

Urine Urea Nitrogen Test Frequency

Your physician can advise you on whether the test needs to be repeated, or conducted regularly. It is common to have the urea nitrogen urine test performed every six months or annually in cases where an individual has a kidney disorder or if a family history of kidney issues has been noticed.