Test ID: RURAU
Urea, Random, Urine
Secondary ID
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Assessment of renal failure (prerenal vs acute kidney injury)
Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test
Kinetic Ultraviolet Assay
Reporting Name
A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Container/Tube: Plastic, 6-mL tube (Supply T465)
Specimen Volume: 5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect a random urine specimen.
2. No preservative.
Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | NA |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days |
| Frozen | 7 days |
Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Urea is a low molecular weight substance (Mol Wt =60) that is freely filtered by glomeruli and the majority is excreted into the urine, although variable amounts are reabsorbed along the nephron. It is the major end product of protein metabolism in humans and other mammals. Approximately 50% of urinary solute excretion and 90% to 95% of total nitrogen excretion is composed of urea under normal conditions. Factors that tend to increase urea excretion include increases in glomerular filtration rate, increased dietary protein intake, protein catabolic conditions, and water diuretic states. Factors that reduce urea excretion include low protein intake and conditions which result in low urine output (eg, dehydration). Urea excretion is a useful marker of protein metabolism.
In oliguric patients with a rising creatinine a fractional excretion of urea <35% is consistent with a prerenal cause, while values >35% are more consistent with acute kidney injury.(2) The fractional excretion of sodium is also used for this purpose, but may be more affected by diuretics. Therefore, the fractional excretion of urea may be particularly useful for patients receiving diuretics.
Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
No established reference values
Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Fractional excretion of urea <35% is consistent with a prerenal cause
Clinical Reference
Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
Carvounis CP, Nisar S, Guro-Razuman S: Significance of the fractional excretion of urea in the differential diagnosis of acute renal failure, Kidney Int, 2002 Dec;62(6):2223-2229
2. Bankir L, Trinh-Trang-Tan MM: Urea and the kidney. In The Kidney. Sixth edition. Edited by BM Brenner. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 2000
Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Urea is hydrolyzed by urease to form ammonia and CO2. The ammonia formed then reacts with ketoglutarate and NADH in the presence of glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) to yield glutamate and NAD(+). The decrease in absorbence is due to consumption of NADH as measured kinetically at 340 nm.(Package insert: Roche Urea/BUN, Roche Diagnostic Corp, Indianapolis IN)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed
Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Sunday; Continuously
Analytic Time
Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time
Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location
The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
84540
LOINC® Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| URCON | Urea, Random, U | 3092-4 |
| CREA5 | Creatinine Concentration | 2161-8 |
| RATO4 | Urea/Creatinine Ratio | 56997-0 |


