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Urea Test Choose Topic + Also Known As: BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) Test Formal Name: Urea Test This article was last reviewed on 29 August 2016. This article was last modified on 22 December 2017.
At a Glance Why Get Tested?
When To Get Tested?
To evaluate kidney function and monitor the effectiveness of dialysis
If you have non-specific symptoms that may suggest a kidney problem or if you are suddenly ill or have a long term illness that may cause or be made worse by kidney disease (/understanding/conditions/kidney)
Sample Required?
Test Preparation Needed?
A blood sample taken from a vein in the arm
None
Looking for Test Results?
Looking for Reference Ranges?
What is being tested? Urea is the final breakdown product of the amino acids found in proteins. Nitrogen in the form of ammonia is produced in the liver when protein is broken down. The nitrogen combines with other chemicals in the liver to form the waste product urea. The urea is released into the bloodstream and carried to the kidneys where it is filtered out of the blood and excreted in the urine. Healthy kidneys remove more than 90% of the urea the...
Common Questions How is it used?
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When is it requested?
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What does the test result mean?
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Is there anything else I should know?
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What other tests are used with urea to check how my kidneys are functioning?
+ See More Common Questions
Related Content On This Site: Tests: Creatinine (http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/creatinine); Urinalysis (http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/urinalysis) Conditions: Kidney disease (http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/conditions/kidney) Elsewhere On The Web Analyte Monographs alongside the National Laboratory Medicine Catalogue (AMALC): Urea (http://www.acb.org.uk/Nat%20Lab%20Med%20Hbk/Urea.pdf) NHS Choices (http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx) Wisegeek.com, What is urea (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-urea.htm) Wikipedia, Urea (http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea) Routine Kidney Function Blood test (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Blood-Test-Kidney-Function.htm)