Specimen Collection

4.5 mL PST Blood (Preferred - effective from 4th Mar 2013)

5 mL Heparin Blood

4 mL Plain Blood

3.5 mL SST Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Microsample Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-heparin Blood
Reference Intervals

Units: mg/dL

Conversion factors:

BUN (mg/dL) x 0.357 = urea (mmol/L)
urea (mmol/L) x 2.8 = BUN (mg/dL)

age	BUN (mg/dL)
0 to 1 month	2.8 - 11.2
1 month to 1 y	3.9 - 15.1
1 y - 4 y	5.0 - 15.1
4 y to Adult	9.0 - 21.5

Uncertainty of Measurement: 6%

Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) is an alternative way of expressing the urea concentration.

It is not used for clinical purposes in New Zealand, but may be required for some clinical trials.

It is a calculated value derived from the urea concentration - see conversion factors above.

Contact Information

The chemical pathology team can be reached via email: chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz or via Lablink (09) 307 4949 ext 22000 or 09-3078995

Emails will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist. Include the patients NHI.

After-hours: contact Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours .

• Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402
• Dr Cam Kyle : CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz ext 22052
• Dr Weldon Chiu : WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427
• Dr Campbell Heron : CHeron@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427
• Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe Saku.Jayasinghe@adhb.govt.nz
• Dr Owen Yi WenyiYi@adhb.govt.nz

Last updated at 11:42:03 16/01/2026