Bun / Serum Creatinine Ratio Calculated Blood Serum
What is this test?
This test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood. Urea is a waste product formed in the liver as a result of protein breakdown and the urea is then released into the blood by the liver. Kidneys filter urea and it gets removed from the body through urination.
Why this test is performed?
This test is one among many tests used to evaluate your kidney function. Your doctor may ask you to perform this test if you experience any signs or symptoms of kidney damage such as fatigue; bloody or coffee-colored or foamy urine; frequent urination; swelling on face, arms, stomach, legs, feet or around eyes; nausea or vomiting; weakness, and muscle cramps etc. You may be advised to undergo this test if you are diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney problems. Your doctor may also ask to perform this test to evaluate the effectiveness of dialysis treatment in case if you are receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. This test may also be performed with other blood tests to rule out other medical conditions such as liver damage, urinary tract obstruction, congestive heart failure, or gastrointestinal bleeding, though these conditions are not diagnosed by this test.
Frequency:
If you have a family history of kidney problems, your healthcare provider may ask you to perform this test on a 6-monthly basis or a yearly basis. Patients with kidney disorders should perform this test on a regular basis or as instructed by your healthcare provider.
Precautions:
Certain medicines may elevate BUN levels such as amphotericin B, vancomycin, cephalosporins, diuretics, methyldopa, rifampin, carbamazepine, and tetracyclines etc.
If you have higher or lower than normal levels of BUN test results, consult your doctor for further instructions. Based on the test results, your doctor may advise you appropriate medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, or further diagnostic tests.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Bun / Serum Creatinine Ratio Calculated Blood Serum. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Bun / Serum Creatinine Ratio Calculated Blood Serum.
No specific preparation is required for this test. However, if it is performed along with other blood tests, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours.
Understanding your test results
If the test result falls in the normal reference range, generally no further medical intervention is necessary. The BUN levels may be normal even when if one kidney is damaged and the other is functional.
High levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) indicate that your kidneys are not working properly. Symptoms of kidney damage are fatigue, bloody or coffee-colored or foamy urine, frequent urination, swelling on face, arms, stomach, legs, feet or around eyes, nausea or vomiting, weakness, and muscle cramps etc. Other causes of high BUN levels are conditions that result in poor blood flow to the kidneys such as heart failure, gastrointestinal bleeding; shock, severe burns, or stress, and urinary tract obstruction. Use of certain medications like antibiotics, dehydration, and a high protein diet may also result in high BUN levels in the blood.
Low levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) are not very common. This can be due to liver disease or damage, malnutrition, overhydration or lack of protein in the diet, though these conditions are not diagnosed by this test. Women who are on the second or third trimester of pregnancy may also exhibit low BUN levels.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | 9:1-23:1 |