Urea Nitrogen, 24-Hour Urine without Creatinine
Test Code
Clinical Significance
Urea Nitrogen, 24-Hour Urine without Creatinine -
This quantitative urea nitrogen test, performed with a 24-hour urine specimen, may help estimate nitrogen balance and determine protein need in patients in critical conditions or receiving intravenous administration of nutrition [1].
Urea is the main nitrogen-containing product of protein breakdown and makes up over 75% of total nonprotein nitrogen excreted. Approximately 90% of the urea excretion is through the kidneys, and the rest is through gastrointestinal tract and skin. Because urea secretion is closely related to protein catabolism, urinary urea, commonly expressed by the concentration ...
Test Resources
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Test Details
Methodology
Reference Range(s)
Alternative Name(s)
Preferred Specimen(s)
10 mL urine aliquot from a well-mixed 24-hour collection - no preservative
Alternative Specimen(s)
Urine preserved with 6N HCl to maintain a pH of <4. Preserved urine may be shipped at room temperature • Urinalysis transport tube (yellow-top, blue fill line, preservative tube)
Minimum Volume
2 mL
Collection Instructions
Record total volume on both the transport container and the test requisition
Transport Container
Plastic urine container
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability
Room temperature (unpreserved): 24 hours (including collection time)
- Refrigerated: 7 days
- Frozen: 15 months
Setup Schedule
Room temperature (unpreserved): 24 hours (including collection time)
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 15 months