BUN Lab Value – Overview
The kidney, liver, heart, and all the other organs have unique roles in our body. Special lab tests are available to determine the functionality of such organs. BUN lab value is one such test prescribed to check the functionality of the Kidney.
All you need to know about BUN Lab Value and its related information is here.
What is BUN?
The BUN test is a short form of the Blood Urea Nitrogen test. When our body breaks down the protein consumed through food, the liver produces urea nitrogen as a waste product.
When we talk about the functionality of kidneys, they are responsible for eliminating waste products through urination.
The kidneys remove BUN through urine. If the kidneys are not healthy, BUN will not be adequately removed from the body and mixed with blood.
A BUN test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood, a waste product formed after the body breaks down protein. The normal BUN range indicates how well your kidneys are functioning. If the BUN level in your blood is high, it typically indicates a problem with your kidneys’ ability to remove waste from your blood efficiently. While liver disease can affect BUN production, elevated BUN levels primarily reflect kidney function.
How Does the BUN Test Perform?
A BUN test is prescribed to check the kidney’s functionality. However, your doctor would prescribe a few more lab tests along with this test to identify the condition of the organs so that the doctor can diagnose it properly.
It is also performed to check the condition of the kidney after completing the dialysis process.
The doctor would prescribe this test upon
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Liver-related issues
- Urinary tract obstruction
- Congestive heart failure, etc.
If you have the following symptoms, share them with your doctor. He will prescribe this BUN test for further investigation.
- Pain in your legs while sleeping
- Pain while you urinate
- Foamy, discolored, brown urine
- The frequency of urination changed suddenly
- Feeling tired all the time
- Swelling in your legs, arms, eyes, face, and ankles
- Pain in the middle of your back around the kidneys
Preparations Before the BUN Test
There are no specific things you have to do before this test; however, there are certain things that you should share with your doctor before you get the BUN test done.
The first thing you need to share with your doctor is the medications you are taking, if any.
Some medicines might alter the final BUN test results. If you take any such medication, your doctor will tell you to stop taking them 24 hours before the BUN test.
BUN test doesn’t require a special diet; you can eat and drink whatever you want. However, if the doctor has prescribed other tests along with the BUN test, you will have to follow your doctor’s words to get the perfect results of the tests.
BUN Lab Value:
What after the BUN test is performed? Once you finish the test, you will receive the lab report to show to your doctor.
We have provided all the information you need to understand the BUN Lab Value and its range, etc., here.
The normal BUN range is between 6 to 20 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), but this can vary slightly depending on the laboratory’s reference range. If your BUN test result is not within this range, consult your doctor for further investigation.
If the results are outside the normal range, you should not worry. Several other things could change the results of these tests. It doesn’t mean that your kidneys or liver are damaged.
A diet high in protein can increase BUN levels, whereas a low-protein diet might lead to lower levels. However, kidney function mainly affects BUN levels rather than dietary protein alone. Sometimes, antibiotics and steroids can also alter the results of this test.
Dehydration, kidney function, and certain medications are common factors that can alter BUN levels. If you want an accurate BUN test result, follow a proper diet a few days before the test and stop taking medicines after consulting with your doctor.
What are BUN Lab Values?
What are the problems associated with high or low BUN Value?
As noted above, a high or low BUN value doesn’t mean you have a problem with your organs.
However, if your BUN test reports show high or low BUN values, you might be having issues. Some problems with test results showing high or low BUN values are listed below!
- Kidney failure
- Kidney disease
- Urinary tract obstructions
- Shock
- Stress
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Heart disease
- Lack of protein in your diet
- Overhydration
- Liver failure
If your BUN reports are abnormal, your doctor will prescribe more tests, including blood and urine, to further investigate and diagnose this problem.
A creatinine test, not ‘creatine,’ is commonly ordered alongside a BUN test to evaluate kidney function more comprehensively. Creatinine is a waste product that, like urea nitrogen, is filtered by the kidneys.
The Bottom Line:
BUN is just like a standard blood test to check the functionality of the kidney. The patient can do everyday activities right after the test if he is not taking other medicines.
Patients with high or low BUN values should visit the doctor’s clinic more frequently to check the condition of the kidneys.
See Also
What are the Creatinine Lab Values
What are the Normal Lab Values
Grants for Laboratory Equipment
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