Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test
About Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | 24-Hour Urine Urea Nitrogen Test, Urine Urea Nitrogen (UUN), Urinary Urea, 24-Hr Urea Test |
| Sample Type | 24-hour urine collection |
| Fasting Required | No fasting required |
| Report Time | 1 day |
| Recommended For | Adults (male and female) |
| Price | Starting at ₹250 |
What is a Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test?
The Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test measures the total amount of urea excreted in urine over a full day. Urea is a waste product formed when the body breaks down protein. Doctors use this test to assess how well the kidneys are filtering and removing this waste. It is also known as the 24-Hour Urine Urea Nitrogen Test or Urine Urea Nitrogen (UUN) test, and it uses a urine sample collected over 24 hours.
What Does a Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test Measure?
This test measures the total quantity of urea your kidneys excrete in a day. The table below explains what the test analyses:
| Component | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Total Urea Excreted | The overall amount of urea passed out in urine over 24 hours |
| Urinary Urea Excretion | Reflects protein breakdown in the body; urea makes up roughly 50% of all solutes excreted in urine |
| Kidney Filtration | Indicates how efficiently the kidneys are clearing urea from the blood |
Why is a Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test Done?
This test is ordered in a range of clinical situations, from checking kidney health to assessing how much protein a seriously ill patient needs.
Common Symptoms That May Require This Test
Your doctor may recommend this test if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Persistent fatigue or low energy
- Swelling in the hands, feet, or ankles
- Changes in how often you pass urine
- Loss of appetite or nausea
- Muscle weakness
- Unexplained weight changes
Conditions This Test Can Help Detect
The urea test can help identify or evaluate several conditions, including:
- Reduced kidney function or kidney disease
- Protein metabolism disorders
- Prerenal conditions, such as heart failure or severe dehydration
- Renal conditions, such as glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney's filtering units)
- Postrenal conditions, such as urinary tract obstructions
- Nitrogen imbalance in patients receiving nutrition through a vein (parenteral nutrition)
Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test for Chronic Disease Monitoring
This test is useful for monitoring patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It helps doctors evaluate how well a patient is following a prescribed diet and whether protein intake is adequate or excessive. Regular testing can also track how well the treatment is working over time.
How to Prepare and What to Expect
Do You Need to Fast?
No, fasting is not required for this test. You can eat and drink normally throughout the 24-hour collection period. However, your diet during the collection period can influence the results, so try to eat as you normally would.
Practical Tips Before Your Test
Keep the following points in mind before and during your collection:
- Bring a detailed clinical history, including your symptoms, previous test results, and any relevant medical records, as this is required for the test.
- Inform your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and supplements you are currently taking.
- Avoid vigorous exercise for 24 hours before and during the collection period.
- Avoid excessive alcohol, as it can affect your hydration levels and skew results.
- Stay well hydrated by drinking water as you normally would.
Step-by-Step Procedure
- On the morning of the collection, empty your bladder completely as usual, but do not collect this first sample. Note the exact time.
- From that point onwards, collect every urine sample in the sterile container provided by the lab or your healthcare provider.
- Keep the container refrigerated or stored in a cool place between collections throughout the day and night.
- End the collection the following morning at the same time you started, including this final void in the container.
- Screw the lid on the container firmly to avoid any leakage or contamination.
- Hand the container to the lab or arrange collection. A small 5 mL aliquot from the total 24-hour urine volume will be used for analysis.
Factors That Can Affect Accuracy
Several factors can affect how reliable your results are:
- Missing even one urine void during the collection period, as this leads to under-collection
- Over-collection if the timing is not followed correctly
- Eating a very high or very low protein diet on the day of collection
- Certain medications that interfere with urea excretion
- Dehydration or excessive fluid intake
- Contamination of the collection container
Understanding Your Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test Results
Your results show the total amount of urea excreted over 24 hours. A doctor will review these figures alongside your medical history, diet, and other tests before drawing any conclusions.
| Parameter | Normal Range |
|---|---|
| Urea (24-hour urine) | 26 to 43 g per 24 hours (900 to 1,500 mmol per day) |
These ranges are general guidelines. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your age, health history, and other factors. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised medical advice.
Results higher than the normal range may be linked to a high-protein diet, an overactive thyroid, post-operative states, increased protein breakdown, or dehydration. Results lower than the normal range may point to advanced kidney disease, liver disease, malnutrition, very low protein intake, or a recovery phase after illness.
Results During Special Conditions
Certain health states can affect your result:
- A recent meal that was very high in protein may raise urea excretion significantly.
- Dehydration or overhydration can both distort urea measurements and should be considered when interpreting results.
- Pregnancy can lower urea nitrogen levels due to normal physiological changes that occur during that time.
- Conditions such as heart failure, diabetes, liver disease, or severe infections may affect urea excretion.
How to Maintain Healthy Levels
These general tips support healthy kidney function and balanced urea levels:
- Eat a balanced diet with a moderate protein intake, as recommended by your doctor.
- Drink enough water each day to keep your kidneys working well and your urine adequately diluted.
- Attend regular health check-ups, especially if you have a personal or family history of kidney disease.
Lupin Diagnostics Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test Price and Home Collection
The urea test cost at Lupin Diagnostics starts at ₹250, and home collection is available across cities for your convenience.
| City | Approximate Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| BHOPAL | 250 |
| CHENNAI | 250 |
| HYDERABAD | 200 |
| KOLKATA | 250 |
| NAVI MUMBAI | 250 |
| PUNE | 250 |
Prices are indicative and may vary by location. Please confirm the current price at the time of booking.
How to Book
- Select the Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test on the Lupin Diagnostics website.
- Choose your city and preferred time slot.
- Opt for urea test home sample collection by a certified phlebotomist, or visit your nearest Lupin Diagnostics centre.
- Receive your report via email or WhatsApp within the stipulated turnaround time.
Home Collection
Urea test home collection is available across multiple cities. A trained phlebotomist will visit your home and provide the sterile collection container along with clear instructions. All samples are processed in NABL-accredited laboratories, and your digital report is delivered promptly once ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
A blood urea test measures the amount of urea present in the bloodstream at a single point in time. The urea test using 24-hour urine measures how much urea your kidneys excrete over an entire day. The urine version gives a fuller picture of how efficiently your kidneys are clearing this waste product.
Urea levels in urine change throughout the day based on what you eat, how much you drink, and your activity level. Collecting over 24 hours smooths out these variations and gives a much more accurate measure of your kidneys' daily output.
No, fasting is not required. You should continue eating and drinking normally during the collection period. Try to stick to your usual diet so that the results reflect your everyday kidney function.
Yes. Eating a very high-protein diet on the day of collection can significantly raise urea excretion levels, while a low-protein or very restricted diet can lower them. This is why your doctor needs to know your recent dietary habits when interpreting your results.
Missing even one sample can make the result inaccurate by under-representing total urea output. If this happens, let your healthcare provider know. In most cases, you will need to restart the collection on a fresh day.
The frequency depends on your health condition and your doctor's advice. For patients being monitored for kidney disease or those receiving nutritional support, periodic testing may be recommended to track changes over time.
Urea, 24 Hours Urine Test
