Home
HelpTest Code 104 Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
Additional Codes
ALAB: BUN
PowerChart: BUN
MA Cerner: BUN.
Test Method
MerycOne DBQ: Enzymatic-Conductivity Rate; Beckman DxC700AU
MercyOne DV: Ion-Selective Electrode Potentiometry; iSTAT
MA: Enzymatic Rate Method; Roche Cobas 6000
Specimen Requirement
0.5 mL plasma or serum is required.
Additional Specimen Collection Information
Collect blood in a lithium heparin, green-top or red-top tube. PST and SST (gel tubes) are acceptable. Serum or plasma should be separated from contact with the cells within 2 hours of collection. Specimens not centrifuged within 4 hours of collection may be rejected. Refrigerate the specimen if unable to assay within 8 hours of collection.
Performance
Testing is performed Monday through Sunday.
Routine orders: Typically completed within 4 hours.
Expedite orders: Typically completed within 1 hour after the specimen arrives at the testing site.
STAT orders: Typically completed within 30 minutes after the specimen arrives at the testing site.
CPT Code Information
84520 Chemistry: Urea Nitrogen (Blood); Urea nitrogen; quantitative
Useful For
The determination of serum blood urea nitrogen currently is the most widely used screening test for the evaluation of kidney function. The test is frequently requested along with the serum creatinine test since simultaneous determination of these 2 compounds appears to aid in the differential diagnosis of prerenal, renal and postrenal hyperuremia.
LOINC Code Information
3094-0 Urea nitrogen
Reference Values
MercyOne Laboratory: 10-26 mg/dL
Medical Associates: 10-20 mg/dL