Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffA common blood test, the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test reveals important information about how well your kidneys and liver are working. A BUN test measures the amount of urea nitrogen that's in your blood.
Here's how your body typically forms and gets rid of urea nitrogen:
- Your liver produces ammonia — which contains nitrogen — after it breaks down proteins used by your body's cells.
- The nitrogen combines with other elements, such as carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, to form urea, which is a chemical waste product.
- The urea travels from your liver to your kidneys through your bloodstream.
- Healthy kidneys filter urea and remove other waste products from your blood.
- The filtered waste products leave your body through urine.
A BUN test can reveal whether your urea nitrogen levels are higher than normal, suggesting that your kidneys or liver may not be working properly.
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