UREA NITROGEN,24 HR URINE
- Code
- 500.1900
- Name
- UREA NITROGEN,24 HR URINE
- Category
- None
- Department
- Chemistry
- Start Date
- Expiration Date
- Synonyms
- UUN (Urine Urea Nitrogen)
- CPT Codes
- 84540, 81050
- Site
- Main Lab
- Reference Test
Specimen Information
- Type
Urine, 24-Hour
- Volume
10.0 ml
- Transport Info
Refrigerated
- Fasting Required?
- False
- Patient Instructions
No preservative
- Reference Range
12-20 g/24hr
- Methodology
Enzymatic Rate
Clinical Significance
Used in the diagnosis of certain renal and metabolic diseases.
The determination of urea is the most widely used test for the evaluation of kidney function. The test is frequently used in conjunction with the determination of creatinine for the differential diagnosis of prerenal hyperuremia (cardiac decompensation, water depletion, increased protein catabolism), renal hyperuremia (glomerulonephritis, chronic nephritis, polycistic kidney, nephrosclerosis, tubular necrosis) and postrenal hyperuremia (obstructions of the urinary tract).Urea is the final degradation product of protein and amino acid metabolism. In protein catabolism the proteins are broken down into amino acids and deaminated. The ammonia formed in this process is synthesized to urea in the liver. This is the most important catabolic pathway for eliminating excess nitrogen in the human body.