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Clinical Biochemistry

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Urea

Also known as: Blood Urea Nitrogen, BUN

Specimen requirements

Adult sample type: Serum (gold/yellow top SST)

Paediatric sample type: Plasma (orange top paediatric tube)

Collection requirements: No special requirements

Cost

Price on application

Turnaround time

Please see Turnaround times

Analytical method

Spectrophotometry

Analysis undertaken at these site(s)

  • John Radcliffe Hospital
  • Churchill Hospital
  • Horton General Hospital

Reference intervals

Female

< 4 years: 1.8 - 6.0 mmol/L
4 - 13 years: 2.5 - 6.0 mmol/L
14 - 19 years: 3.0 - 7.5 mmol/L
20 - 50 years: 2.5 - 6.7 mmol/L
> 50 years: 3.5 - 7.2 mmol/L

Male

< 4 years: 1.8 - 6.0 mmol/L
4 - 13 years: 2.5 - 6.0 mmol/L
14 - 19 years: 3.0 - 7.5 mmol/L
20 - 50 years: 3.2 - 7.4 mmol/L
> 50 years: 3.0 - 9.2 mmol/L

Last reviewed:27 January 2023