Urea Test - Serum

The Urea Test - Serum measures the amount of urea in your blood serum.

• To diagnose and monitor kidney disease
• To assess dehydration or overhydration
• To monitor the effectiveness of dialysis treatments
• To evaluate other conditions such as liver disease, heart failure, and gastrointestinal bleeding

• Your doctor may recommend this test if you exhibit symptoms of kidney disease such as fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting or swelling in the hands and feet.
• You might also undergo this test if you have a family history of kidney disease or are taking medications that could impact kidney function.

High levels of urea nitrogen in your blood may indicate kidney problems, heart failure or dehydration, while low levels may be indicative of liver problems or malnutrition.

A blood sample will be taken from your arm by a lab technician. The sample is then sent to the lab for testing.

• Inform your doctor of any medications or supplements you are taking that could impact the test results. Also, tell them if you have any specific requirements.
• You may be instructed to fast for a few hours before the test.

• Creatinine Test: This blood test measures the level of creatinine in your blood and is used to evaluate kidney function.
• Electrolyte Tests: These blood tests measure levels of various electrolytes to help diagnose and monitor various conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease or dehydration.

• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test
• Serum urea nitrogen (SUN) test
• Urea nitrogen test
• Urea blood test

There are many different types of kidney disease, but they can be broadly categorized into two main types: acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

1. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a sudden loss of kidney function. It can be caused by a number of factors, including dehydration, medications, infection, injury, certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
2. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term (or lifelong) condition that affects the kidneys' ability to filter waste products from the blood. It is caused by a number of factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, family history, certain medications, kidney stones

The different types of kidney disease include:

1. Glomerulonephritis: This is a condition that affects the glomeruli, which are tiny filters in the kidneys. Glomerulonephritis can be caused by a number of factors, including infection, autoimmune diseases, and certain medications.
2. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): This is a genetic condition that causes cysts to form in the kidneys. PKD can lead to kidney failure over time.
3. Nephrotic syndrome: This is a condition that causes the kidneys to leak protein into the urine. Nephrotic syndrome can be caused by a number of factors, including glomerulonephritis, diabetes, and certain medications.
4. Kidney cancer: This is a type of cancer that starts in the kidneys. Kidney cancer is more common in men than in women.

The urea test detects the level of urea nitrogen in the blood, helping assess kidney function and identify potential kidney problems or other conditions affecting urea nitrogen levels.

Urea Test reports indicate the level of urea nitrogen in the blood, which can help diagnose and monitor kidney function. Normal levels typically range between 7 and 20 mg/dL, while higher or lower levels may indicate various health issues.

A "positive" result, indicating higher than normal urea nitrogen levels, may suggest that the kidneys are not functioning properly due to kidney disease, dehydration, or other factors. Further tests may be recommended for a comprehensive assessment of kidney function.

The benefits of a urea test include early detection of kidney problems, monitoring the progression or improvement of kidney diseases, assessing the effectiveness of the treatment, and identifying health issues that may affect urea nitrogen levels.

The risks associated with urea test are minimal and typically include pain, bruising, or slight bleeding at the blood draw site, infection at the needle site, or a feeling of lightheadedness or fainting.

Urea test is primarily used to diagnose and monitor kidney diseases. It can also indicate other conditions such as liver disease, dehydration, high-protein diet effects, certain medication side effects, burns, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Yes, certain medications, such as steroids and antibiotics, can affect urea nitrogen levels. Additionally, medications that impact kidney function can alter the results of the urea test.

Generally, no special preparation or fasting is needed for a urea test. However, if additional tests are being conducted on the same blood sample, fasting may be required based on your healthcare provider's instructions.

Several factors can affect urea nitrogen levels, like high-protein diet, dehydration, burns, certain medications, pregnancy, stress, blockage in the urinary tract, heart attack, gastrointestinal bleeding, and age.

Generally, urea test results are available after 4 hours, though the exact timeframe may differ based on the healthcare provider and the timing of the sample collection and processing.