Full Form of BUN?
The full form of BUN is blood urea nitrogen. As the name suggests, BUN is nothing more than a measurement of the nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea. Urea is a substance produced by the liver's breakdown of proteins. The amount of urea excreted as BUN differs from the amount of protein ingested. If BUN is elevated, it may be due to increased urea production by the liver or decreased excretion by the kidneys. Normal adult blood must contain about 6 to 18 mg/dL of urea nitrogen. Higher blood nitrogen leads to the conclusion that the individual may suffer from kidney failure. This test is done precisely to rule out any kidney problems.
BUN Levels at Normal:
- Healthy adult man- 8 to 20 mg of urea nitrogen per 100ml (8-20 mg/dL) of blood.
- Healthy adult woman- 6 to 20 mg of urea nitrogen per 100ml (6-20 mg/dL) of blood.
- Children- 5 to 18 mg of urea nitrogen per 100ml (5-18 mg/dL) of blood.
What happens in a BUN test?
A small needle will be used by a clinical expert to draw blood from a vein in your arm. The modest quantity of blood will be gathered into a test tube or vial once the needle has been put. The needle might sting fairly when it enters or leaves your body. Normally, this only takes a couple of minutes.
What to do before the test?
A BUN test often requires no extra preparation. However, if your doctor has requested further testing on your blood sample, you might need to do a fast (not eat or drink) for a few hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any particular instructions to follow.
Key Factors of BUN
Some key factors that may cause an increase in the BUN are:
- High protein diet
- Decrease in Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
- Decreased blood volume (hypovolemia)
- Congestive heart failure
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
- Increased catabolism
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- High protein levels
- Urinary tract obstruction
- Congestive heart failure
- Gastrointestinal bleeding