Home
HelpEpic Test Code LAB140 Urea Nitrogen: Serum (BUN)
Performing Location(s)
BMC,CRH,LFH,HRK,OCH,FTT,FOC,FCC
Specimen Type
Serum or Plasma
Preferred Container
Gold or Red top tube
Alternate Container
Green top tube
Blood Tube Draw Volume
Min 50% draw volume
Minimum Volume to Submit for Testing
0.5 mL Serum or Plasma
- Multiple test can be performed from this volume. For question please contact the lab at 547-3975.
Storage Requirements
Sample tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection
Gold tops are stable in original tubes for 7 days DO NOT ALIQUOT
Aliquot Red tops after centrifuging
See Causes of Rejection for temperature requirements.
Transportation Needs
Deliver specimen to laboratory within 1 hour of collection if unspun. If not possible see "storage Requirements".
Causes for Rejection
Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen
Less than 50% draw for Vacutainer tubes
>4 days refrigerated
> 24 hours room temperature
> 2 months Frozen
Hemolysis > 500 mg/dL HgB
Lipemia > 500 mg/dL Trig
Bilirubin > 20 mg/dL Bili
Limitations
This method reacts quantitatively within ammonium ions
Reference Values
| Population | Units | Reference Range |
| </= 1 month | mg/dL | 3-10 |
| > 1 month | mg/dL | 7-25 |
Days of Analysis
All
Available STAT
Yes
Includes
Quantitative analysis for Urea Nitrogen
BCR is calculated on Inpatient orders only when both BUN and CRTN are ordered.
Methodology
Beckman AU/Dx Series
Additional Information
Additional Information:
Uremia is best evaluated with Creatinine as well as by urea nitrogen in both prerenal and postrenal azotemia. For instance, BUN is apt to be increased somewhat more than creatinine in chronic progressive renal disease.
About three quarters of the renal parenchyma must be damaged or destroyed before azotemia develops.
For Kinetic Modeling or Recirculation Studies on Dialysis patients see Urea Nitrogen, Dialysis
CPT Code
84520
Last Updated
26-OCT-24 MS