The body produces much more BUN than creatinine, and the ideal ratio lies between 10:1 and 20:1. The normal range for BUN/Creatinine ratio is anywhere between 5 – 20 mg/dL. What Do the Bun/Creatinine Ratio Test Results Mean?Ī BUN/Creatinine ratio is acquired by dividing the BUN count with the creatinine count. The entire process takes about 5 to 10 minutes. It is just like any other blood test carried out in a laboratory. The lab technician can perform a blood test most easily. How does the Bun/Creatinine Blood Test Take Place? Adequate hydration and consuming sufficient amounts of proteins before taking the test are necessary to get accurate results. High protein diets can lead to abnormally high BUN levels, while low protein diets can result in low BUN levels. Protein intake can also affect the BUN test. It means taking a BUN/Creatinine Ratio Test when you are dehydrated may affect the results. Things to Know Before Going for the TestĪ BUN test can check for severe dehydration, which generally causes BUN levels to rise, but Creatinine levels do not. When performed together, they provide your primary caregiver a much better understanding of your kidney health and accurate analysis of kidney-related health conditions. These tests are a great diagnostic tool for observing liver and kidney health. The doctors use both BUN and Creatinine tests to check out the BUN to Creatinine ratio. The rate of creatinine formation depends on the individual’s muscle mass.Īs creatinine production reflects muscle mass, it can change little from day to day due to mass change.Īn excessive amount of creatinine is a sign of impaired kidney function or kidney disease. It comes from creatinine, a protein that helps generate energy for muscle contraction and is transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is filtered and excreted through the urine. What Is a Creatinine Test?Ĭreatinine is a type of molecule or waste product that is generated from muscle wear and tear. High levels of urea may be a sign of some kidney problem that needs medical attention. Having some urea in the blood is normal as the liver is constantly producing it. Optimal functioning kidneys then filter and remove other waste products like urea through urination. The nitrogen comes from the waste product urea converted from nitrogen and produced in the liver when protein is metabolized after eating.

It allows the doctors to learn about your kidney and liver performance. In most cases of chronic renal or kidney damage, this ratio stays relatively normal.Ī Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) test measures the amount of nitrogen in your blood.

When there is a decline in the formation of urea, the ratio of BUN/Creatinine also goes down.

Increased urea formation can also increase the ratio, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and trauma, etc.

Reduced kidney perfusion such as congestive heart failure or recent onset of urinary tract obstruction can lead to an increase in the BUN/Creatinine ratio.

The BUN/Creatinine ratio helps with differential diagnosis of acute or chronic kidney disease.

Some essential factors to know about BUN/Creatinine blood test When the BUN levels are studied with the creatinine levels, it gives a better picture of what is happening with the kidneys. It is the reason a creatinine test is also needed. The BUN level alone does not reveal much about kidney health. It allows the healthcare providers to assess how well the kidneys are functioning. Together, they help in measuring the overall kidney function. They can also determine gastrointestinal bleeding or trauma in some cases.īlood urea nitrogen and creatinine are both filtered in the kidney and excreted in the urine. And while they can be tested separately, the BUN/creatinine ratio can help pinpoint significant health issues. These tests reveal a lot about your metabolism, kidney, liver, and overall health.

What Is a Bun/Creatinine Ratio Test?īUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine are two blood tests used for diagnosing acute or chronic kidney damage or disease. The internal medicine doctors at the Century Medical and Dental Center focus on diagnosing your renal problems and use the test results to recommend the best treatment. The BUN/Creatinine ratio blood test measures the overall kidney functions and detects any sign of metabolic disease or liver damage. If you have a family history of kidney disease or suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure, get your BUN and creatinine ratio tested as urea and creatinine are filtered in the kidney and excreted in the urine. Early kidney disease is a silent problem, and you may not know about it until you begin to feel the symptoms and it is too late to reverse it.

What is a normal bun range