BUN/Creatinine Ratio Panel
Pairs two kidney markers to help tell apart causes of rising waste products in the blood.
Consider this test if:
- Investigating a high BUN or creatinine flagged on a recent metabolic panel
- Symptoms of dehydration, swelling, or fluid overload alongside kidney concerns
- Tracking kidney function with heart failure, high blood pressure, or diabetes
- Wanting a baseline of how well your kidneys are filtering
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Results delivered to your dashboard · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Stay well hydrated, since dehydration raises BUN and the ratio. A very high-protein meal or heavy creatine supplementation before the draw can also push values up; keep intake consistent if you are comparing results over time. Fasting is not required for this panel.
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What this test is for
This panel measures urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, the ratio between them, and eGFR, an estimate of how well your kidneys filter blood. The BUN/creatinine ratio is most useful for sorting out why those waste products are elevated: a high ratio points toward reduced blood flow to the kidneys (such as dehydration or heart failure), urinary obstruction, or extra urea from gastrointestinal bleeding or a high-protein load, while a low ratio can reflect liver disease or low protein intake. In most chronic kidney disease the ratio stays relatively normal, which is why eGFR and creatinine carry more weight for tracking long-term filtration. BUN also shifts quickly with hydration and protein intake, so this panel reads best alongside your symptoms and a recent baseline. The broader Kidney Panel adds a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, the earliest sign of kidney damage, if your goal is screening rather than working out the cause of an abnormal reading.
Biomarkers tested
Includes 4 biomarkers
This ratio compares urea nitrogen, a waste product the liver makes from protein breakdown, to creatinine, a byproduct of muscle metabolism, giving context that either marker alone can't. A high ratio points toward dehydration, high protein intake, or reduced blood flow to the kidneys, while a low ratio suggests liver trouble or a low-protein diet, so it's most useful for interpreting an abnormal BUN or creatinine rather than standing alone. Order it alongside kidney function testing when you're investigating fatigue, unexplained swelling, or changes in urination, or when you want to rule out dehydration as the cause of an odd creatinine result.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Ratio
Creatinine is a waste product released as your muscles break down creatine for energy, and your kidneys filter it out of the blood at a steady rate. When creatinine rises, it usually means the kidneys are filtering less efficiently, making it the core marker for kidney function and the basis for calculating eGFR. Test it as a baseline for kidney health, to monitor the impact of blood pressure, diabetes, high-protein diets, or supplements like creatine, or to investigate unexplained fatigue, swelling, or changes in urination.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
- Specimen
- Serum, plasma, or blood
- Method
- Creatinine-based (CKD-EPI)
- Measures
- Ratio
Blood urea nitrogen tracks the waste product your liver makes when it breaks down protein, cleared by kidneys that filter it out of circulation. High BUN points to reduced kidney filtration, dehydration, or a high protein intake, while low levels can reflect liver trouble or very low protein diets. Paired with creatinine, it rounds out a kidney function baseline and helps investigate fatigue, swelling, changes in urination, or unexplained shifts tied to diet, hydration, or medication changes.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
What you'll learn
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Insights that connect the dots. A clinician reads your whole picture, not one result in isolation, connecting family history, past results, and lifestyle into clear next steps.
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Your personalized action plan. Nutrition, supplements, and training in one clinician-reviewed protocol, updated as your results change.
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Track your trends. Upload results from any lab and see each biomarker trend over time, so you know what is working.
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Never miss a recheck. Mito tells you what is worth retesting and when, then reminds you so nothing slips.
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Fast, dashboard-delivered results
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
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Every test at our cost
Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
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Continuous tracking, all in one place
Upload past labs and watch your trends over time. Every marker and visit lives in one longitudinal record, so all your care stays together.
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Year-round clinician support
Text anytime and get clinician-reviewed answers. When you want to go deeper, 1:1 consultations are available at affordable rates.
All for $9/month
Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost, covering the lab and what it takes to run the service. It is never a profit on the test itself. Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9 per month, and any applicable lab order or draw fee is itemized before you pay.
Where do I get tested?
Choose an available partner lab at checkout. If your cart contains multiple blood tests, Mito helps consolidate the eligible tests at one lab when possible. At-home kits and scans follow the collection or appointment process shown on their product page.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. Eligible tests can be paid for with an HSA or FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results appear in your Mito dashboard after the laboratory completes processing. A clinician then reviews them before your analysis and personalized action plan are finalized. Timing varies by test, and specialty assays and at-home kits may take longer.
Do I need a physician's order?
No. Mito provides the laboratory order when one is required, so you do not need to arrange a separate physician visit before purchasing.
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