What is the significance of blood urea nitrogen

A BUN test is only one type of measurement of kidney function. If your health care provider suspects you have kidney disease, additional tests may be recommended. These may include a measurement of creatinine, which is another waste product filtered by your kidneys, and a test called a GFR Glomerular Filtration Rate , which estimates how well your kidneys are filtering blood.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. What is a BUN blood urea nitrogen test? What is it used for? Why do I need a BUN test? These include: Family history of kidney problems Diabetes High blood pressure Heart disease In addition, your BUN levels may be checked if you are experiencing symptoms of later stage kidney disease, such as: Needing to go the bathroom urinate frequently or infrequently Itching Recurring fatigue Swelling in your arms, legs, or feet Muscle cramps Trouble sleeping.

What happens during a BUN test? Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test? Are there any risks to the test?

What do the results mean? Is there anything else I need to know about a BUN test? References Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D. On its own, the BUN level does little to tell your provider for sure about your kidney renal function.

But when it is measured along with creatinine levels, your provider can look at how these 2 levels compare to help find out your kidney function. If this ratio is higher or lower than normal, you may have some type of kidney problem. If your healthcare provider thinks you may have a kidney problem, you may also have other blood and urine tests and a blood pressure check to help check your kidney function. Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things.

Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you. A better measure is the ratio of BUN to creatinine found in your blood. Typically, the ratio of BUN to creatinine should be between and If it's lower or higher than that, it may mean you have a problem with your kidneys or you may not be drinking enough water. The test is done with a blood sample. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm or hand.

Having a blood test with a needle carries some risks. These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you may feel a slight sting or pain. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

Updated visitor guidelines. Top of the page. Test Overview A blood urea nitrogen BUN test measures the amount of nitrogen in your blood that comes from the waste product urea. See if your kidney disease is getting worse. See if treatment of your kidney disease is working. Check for severe dehydration. Dehydration generally causes BUN levels to rise more than creatinine levels. This causes a high BUN-to-creatinine ratio.

Kidney disease or blockage of the flow of urine from your kidney causes both BUN and creatinine levels to go up. How It Is Done A health professional uses a needle to take a blood sample, usually from the arm. How It Feels When a blood sample is taken, you may feel nothing at all from the needle.

Risks There is very little chance of having a problem from this test. Results Normal Each lab has a different range for what's normal. High values A high BUN value can mean kidney injury or disease is present.