| Laboratory: | Clinical Biochemistry (POC (Point of Care) TEST) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Test Name: |
Urea - epoc - (B)
Test Code:
UB
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| Clinical Information: |
Description: Urea is the major end-product of protein and amino acid metabolism, and is the most important mechanism by which the body eliminates excess nitrogen. It is synthesized by the urea cycle in the liver and is excreted primarily by the kidneys. Blood urea testing is therefore used as a screening test for the evaluation of kidney function.
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| Collection Devices: |
Capillary specimens must be collected in a balanced heparin capillary tube (FULL collection), capped, mixed, and tested within 5 minutes of collection.
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| Specimen Required: |
Whole Blood: 4.0 mL
Pediatric Whole Blood: 0.1 mL
Collection Information: Evacuated blood tubes must be FULL to maintain specimen stability. Specimens must remain capped until tested to avoid contamination with air.
Rejection criteria: clots, insufficient volume, leaking specimens, and specimens not received within 10 minutes of collection.
Capillary samples must be tested at the bedside, within 5 minutes.
Specimen Stability: Ambient: 30 minutes (syringe); 10 minutes (vacutainer); 5 minutes (capillary) Refrigerated: DO NOT REFRIGERATE Frozen: DO NOT FREEZE Do not submit specimens on ice. |
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| Referral: |
Only available at sites which perform epoc testing on-site.
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| Requisition: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reference Values: |
Critical Values: <1 year of age only: >25 mmol/L Method of Analysis: Enzymatic (urease) coupled to Potentiometry – Ammonium direct Ion Selective Electrode Siemens epoc® Blood Analysis System, BGEM test card |
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| Availability: |
Daily or Stat
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| See Also: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| More Information: |
Interpretation & Assay Interferences: See attached epoc assay interference document
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