Blood Urea Nitrogen

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Specializes in ER trauma, ICU - trauma, neuro surgical.

I have a random question concerning BUN. Can't really find specifics in different references. Would it be politically correct to say that when measuring the BUN from a blood tube, it is measuring the BUN in the serum or simply the BUN from the blood sample?

I am aware of what BUN is, what is indicates, and what it is used for in term of measuring. Basically, what Im asking if it would be correct to say you are measuring the serum BUN and creatinine, or measuring the BUN and serum creatinine. For example, you wouldn't say serum GFR because GFR is a rate, not a serum marker. So, is BUN a measurement of serum BUN or just BUN?

Thanks!

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Specializes in ICU.

I was unsure and curious enough to google for you, though it took me a bit to find out exactly what I was looking for. I found this .pdf from the CDC about testing BUN samples, and it states the matrix for analysis is refrigerated serum. It looks like the BUN level is indeed a serum BUN.

(http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CE4QFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fnchs%2Fdata%2Fnhanes%2Fnhanes_03_04%2Fl40_c_met_blood_urea_nitrogen.pdf&ei=tDjRVNKEO4aegwTRjYPwCg&usg=AFQjCNFvVPGDAnTU0KZv0yPxgOmanZ9Vrw)

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Specializes in ER trauma, ICU - trauma, neuro surgical.

Thank you! I looked at tons of websites, including the CDC, various lab sites, and went through my old textbooks only to find explanations. You rock! I didn't see this link. Appreciate it!

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