The BUN/Creatinine ratio blood test is used to diagnose acute or chronic renal (kidney) disease or damage. It may also be used to determine gastrointestinal bleeding or trauma. BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine are both filtered in the kidneys and excreted in urine. The two together are used to measure overall kidney function.
The blood urea nitrogen or BUN test is primarily used, along with the creatinine test, to evaluate kidney function in a wide range of circumstances, to help diagnose kidney disease, and to monitor people with acute or chronic kidney dysfunction or failure. It also may be used to evaluate a person’s general health status when ordered as part of a renal panel, basic metabolic panel (BMP) or comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP).
Normal creatinine clearance for healthy women is 88-128 mL/min. and 97 to 137 mL/min. in males (normal levels may vary slightly between labs). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is another indicator of kidney function. Urea is also a metabolic byproduct which can build up if kidney function is impaired.
