Urine Analysis: Part 19 – 24 hrs Urine Urea, Urine Urea Nitrogen/24 Hours
Sample
- The test sample is urine.
- Collected urine for 24 hours.
- The urine sample is stable at 4 to 8 °C for 4 days or preserves with thymol to avoid bacterial action.
- Discard the first urine sample and note the time. Add the last sample of urine in the container.
- 10 grams of boric acid can be used as preservative/24 hours.
Indications
- This test is mainly used to:
- Determine protein metabolism.
- It determines the amount of protein needed by the severely ill patient.
- It gives information about kidney function.
- It can monitor kidney disease.
- Patients with confirmed or suspected protein digestion and absorption problems.
- Patients on long-term enteral nutrition or parenteral nutrition.
Pathophysiology
- Urea formula =
- Urea is the major excretory product of protein metabolism.
- Urea is a low molecular weight substance and easily excreted by glomeruli and is mostly excreted in the urine.
- Urea is excreted by the kidneys, so the excretion of urea can reflect kidney function.
- It is synthesized in the liver carried to the kidney filtered through the glomeruli mostly into the urine.
- 40% is reabsorbed by passive diffusion.
- The rate of absorption depends upon:
- Urine flow rate.
- The degree of hydration.
- 10 % of urea is excreted through:
- GI tract.
- Skin.
- Blood urea level depends upon:
- Renal function and perfusion.
- The protein content of the diet.
- Amount of protein catabolism.
Normal
Source 1
Urine urea nitrogen
- 12 to 20 g/day (428.4 to 714 mmol/day).
Another source
- 6 to 7 G /24 hours ( 60 to 90 mg/dL )
- Other reference says:
- 7 to 20 g /total volume
- 12 to 24 g /24 hours.
- This also depends upon the protein intake.
The decreased urine urea level is seen in:
- Malnutrition.
- Too little amount of protein in the diet.
- Kidney dysfunction.
- Increased reabsorption.
The increased level is seen in:
- Excessive protein intake.
- increased protein catabolism.