Estimation of Blood Urea

BY
Dr Ihsan S. Mahmood

Urea
• Urea (H2N–CO–NH2) is the diamide of
carbonic acid.
• Unlike ammonia, it is neutral and therefore
relatively non-toxic.
• Urea is the major excretory product of protein
metabolism.
 Urea
• Urea is synthesized in the liver
• transported through blood
• excreted in urine
• Urea excretion represents the major route for
nitrogen excretion.
• So what else ?

Clinical Applications
• Evaluating renal function
• Assessment of hydration status
• Determination of nitrogen balance
• Verifying adequacy of dialysis
Causes of Increased blood urea*

* Clinical Chemistry by Michael L. Bishop

Notes
• Urea is freely diffusible in and out of RBC and Plasma
, So it can be measured in whole blood , Plasma and
Serum

• Whole blood should be deproteinized to eliminate

Hb interference.

• Sample should be analyzed within several hours of

collection to avoid effect of bacterial action.
 Estimation of Blood Urea
• Principle
The method based on the following reaction

Urea + H2O Urease 2NH3 + CO2

Salicylate and hypochlorite in the reagent react with

the ammonium ions to form a green complex

Estimation of Blood Urea

• Rapid Method
Blank Standard Test
Working Reagent (R1) 1 ml 1 ml 1 ml
Standard 10μ ml
Serum 10μ ml
Demineralised Water 10μ ml
Mix and stand at room temperature for 5 min
200μ ml 200 μ ml 200 μ ml
Sodium hypochlorite( R2)
Mix and stand at room temperature for 10 min,
Measure at 600 nm
 Estimation of Blood Urea
• Calculation

𝑨𝒃𝒔 (𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒚)
• 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒂 = x conc of standard ( mg/dl)
𝑨𝒃𝒔 ( 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅)

Normal Range = 15 - 45 mg/dl

Estimation of Blood Urea

• Calculation

𝑨𝒃𝒔 (𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒚)
• 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒂 = x 50 ( mg/dl)
𝑨𝒃𝒔 ( 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅)

Normal Range = 15 - 45 mg/dl