Home kit
Urea Test
Urea, the waste product from protein that the kidneys clear, measured on its own.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 1 to 2 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
1 marker measured
Urea
Urea is checked together with sodium, potassium and creatinine to assess how well the kidneys are working and the body's fluid balance.
Overview
Urea is the waste product from protein that the kidneys clear, and it rises when they are filtering less well. It is a simple addition when you already have a creatinine result, and it adds context about hydration and protein intake that creatinine alone does not give.
Urea comes from the breakdown of protein and is removed by the kidneys, so it rises when they are filtering less well. It also rises simply from not drinking enough, from a high-protein diet and after a gut bleed, which is why it is a rough guide rather than a precise measure of kidney function. Creatinine with eGFR is the better single answer to that question, and the Kidney Function Test covers both for £25 less than the two singles together.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Adults aged 18 and over
- Anyone adding urea to a creatinine result they already have
- People following kidney results over time
Who it isn’t for
- Urea is a rough guide rather than a measure of kidney function. It rises simply from not drinking enough, from a high-protein diet and after a gut bleed, and it falls in liver disease and pregnancy, so it is easily misread on its own. Creatinine with eGFR is the better single answer to how the kidneys are filtering, and the Kidney Function Test covers urea, creatinine and eGFR together for £25 less than these two singles.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- Adding urea to a creatinine result you already have
- Taking blood pressure tablets and wanting kidney results on record
- Following kidney results over time
- Concerns about dehydration or a very high-protein diet
- A clinician has asked for urea
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- Urea▲ High
- Result
- 8.4 mmol/L
- Range
- 2.5–7.8
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urea | 8.4 | mmol/L | 2.5–7.8 | ▲ High |
Doctor’s note (example)
Urea is a little raised, most often from not drinking enough before the sample or a high-protein diet. With a normal creatinine and eGFR, kidney function looks normal on these numbers.
Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- Your kit arrivesPosted to your door, with instructions and what you need to send your sample back.
- You take your sampleFinger-prick sample at home, or a clinic blood draw, your choice
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Home finger-prick kit
- Preparation
- No fasting required
- Who it's for
- Any sex · ages 18+
How to prepare
What we can and can’t tell you
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
The reference range printed beside each of your results is the laboratory's own, and it is the range that applies to your result. We do not apply a second range of our own, and we do not tell you that a result the laboratory reported as normal is nonetheless too low or too high. If you see a claim elsewhere that your result ought to sit inside a narrower band than the one the laboratory printed, treat it with caution and ask your doctor.
Some assays cannot give an exact figure above or below a certain point, and those results are reported the way the laboratory sends them, for example as a value greater than a stated number. A result in range is not a clean bill of health, and a result outside a range is not a diagnosis: most reference ranges are set to cover about 95% of healthy people, so some healthy people fall just outside them. No blood test replaces an examination, a scan or your own doctor's judgement, and none of these panels is a screening programme for cancer.
If you have a symptom that is new, severe, or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111 rather than waiting for a test result. In an emergency call 999.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast?
No, but drink normally on the day. Being short of fluid can raise urea noticeably, even when your kidneys are healthy.
Why is urea measured with creatinine?
Because the two together say more than either alone. A raised urea with a normal creatinine often points to hydration, diet or bleeding in the gut; both raised together points more towards the kidneys themselves.
Does a high-protein diet change it?
Yes. More protein means more urea to clear, so people on high-protein diets often sit at the upper end of the range with entirely normal kidneys. The reviewing doctor takes that into account if you say so.
Is urea the same as blood urea nitrogen?
They measure the same thing on different scales. UK laboratories report urea in mmol/L. Results from abroad may be reported as blood urea nitrogen, which uses different units, so compare like with like.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
Both, it is your choice at checkout. Either collect a finger-prick sample at home with the posted kit and send it back as the instructions explain, or book a clinic appointment and have a trained clinician take the sample for you.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your sample is analysed at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189). A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. There is no option to receive results without a doctor reading them first. The report arrives in your secure portal in plain English: each result with its unit and the laboratory's own reference range, and the doctor's note on what the set means read together. If a result sits outside its range the report says so and explains what usually happens next, which is most often a conversation with your own GP, who can act on it alongside your history and examination. Most reference ranges are set to cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one of them. On a report with many results it is common for one to sit just outside its range, and a single number on its own rarely tells the whole story. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find. If a specific result needs rechecking, the reviewing doctor says so in your report.
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