Lab Test

BUN/Creatinine, Post Dialysis

Dialysis BUN/Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen/Creatinine, PBCR2

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231109

Department

Chemistry

Instructions

This test is only available to Dialysis patients.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Preferred Sample:  One Light Green (Mint) Top Plasma Separator Tube (PST) (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)

Acceptable Sample:  One Gold Top SST (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)

FOR PHYSICIAN OFFICE/OUTREACH SAMPLE COLLECTION:

Collect: One Gold-top SST tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)
Contact the Laboratory for the acceptability of other tube types. 

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged SST tube within two hours of collection. (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged SST tube, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

  • Moderate to grossly hemolyzed specimens.
  • Red-top tubes with serum not separated from cells within two hours of collection.

In-Lab Processing

Let SST or PST specimens clot 30-60 minutes. Centrifuge SST or PST tubes and Microtainers® to separate serum from cells. Deliver immediately to the appropriate testing station.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers® with Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers® without Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum or Plasma Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 5 days

Laboratory

Dearborn Chemistry Laboratory
Farmington Hills Chemistry Laboratory 
Grosse Pointe Chemistry Laboratory
Royal Oak Automated Chemistry Laboratory
Troy Chemistry Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Results available within 4 hours.

Reference Range

Urea (BUN):

AgeMale (mg/dL)Female (mg/dL)
0-14 days3 23
15 days - <1 year317
1-10 years922
11-18 years721
19-adult725

Creatinine (Male):

Male - Age
mg/dL  mg/dL
  0 - 14 days0.43 0.92
 15 days - <2 years 0.10 0.36
 2 - <5 years 0.20 0.43
 5 - <12 years
 0.31 0.61
 12 - <15 years 0.45 0.81
 15 - <19 years0.621.8 
  19 - adult 0.601.30 

Creatinine (Female):

Female - Age
mg/dLmg/dL
0 - 14 days0.320.92
15 days - <2 years0.100.36
 2 - <5 years0.200.43
 5 - <12 years
0.310.61
 12 - <15 years0.450.81
 15 - <19 years0.490.84
19 - adult0.501.10

Test Methodology

Enzymatic Urease, Spectrophotometry, or Conductivity Electrode.

Interpretation

BUN results will be used for two calculations:

  1. Kt/V (A dialysis dose calculation using patient's post dialysis weight, volume of ultrafiltrate (L), and BUN results.)
  2. %URR (Urea Reduction Ratio) = 100*((pre-BUN - post-BUN)/pre-BUN)

Clinical Utility

This test is used to assess the adequacy of dialysis.

CPT Codes

84520, 82565.

Contacts

Last Updated

4/17/2025

Microtainer® and Vacutainer® are registered trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company.
UroVysion® is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories. ThinPrep® is a registered trademark of Hologic, Incorporated.