NHS App test results explained
U&E blood test: kidney function and eGFR explained
A U&E is the routine UK blood test for kidney function and the balance of salts in your blood. It usually includes sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine, and the lab works out your eGFR from the creatinine. It is often done as part of a check-up or to keep an eye on a condition or medicine.
Also printed as: U&E, U&Es, EUC, Renal panel.
What is on the report
Typical adult ranges. Each lab sets its own, so the range printed next to your result is the one that counts.
| Test | What it is | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | A mineral salt (electrolyte) that keeps the body's water in balance. | 135–145 mmol/L |
| Potassium | A mineral salt (electrolyte) that keeps your heartbeat and muscles steady. | 3.6–5.2 mmol/L |
| Urea | The protein waste that US reports print as BUN. | 15–47 mg/dL |
| Creatinine | A waste product from muscles that the kidneys clear. | 52–92 µmol/L (women) 65–119 µmol/L (men) |
| eGFR | An estimate of how much blood your kidneys filter each minute. | over 60 mL/min/1.73m² |
| Chloride | A mineral salt (electrolyte) that works with sodium to balance fluids. | 98–107 mmol/L |
| CO2 | Mostly bicarbonate, which keeps your blood from becoming too acidic. | 22–29 mmol/L |
Good to know in United Kingdom
- U&E and EUC are UK shorthand for urea and electrolytes. What the profile includes varies by laboratory: urea is not always included, and creatinine usually is. Some labs add chloride and bicarbonate on request.
- NICE guidance says UK laboratories should report an eGFR with every creatinine result, so you do not need to ask for it separately.
- eGFR is reported in mL/min/1.73m². UK labs use the CKD-EPI formula and no longer apply a separate adjustment for ethnicity.
- NHS staging of chronic kidney disease uses eGFR together with a urine test called the albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR).
- Some NHS labs also add an acute kidney injury (AKI) flag to the U&E when creatinine changes.
Call 999 in an emergency. For urgent advice that is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111. For questions about your test results, contact your GP surgery.
Keep your reports in one place
Take a photo or screenshot of your results, or upload the PDF, and Vita explains each number in plain words, suggests what to ask your GP, and keeps it with your past results. Vita does not connect to the NHS App or to any UK health record system, and its hospital connections are for US hospitals, not UK ones.
Vita Health Coach on the App StoreAsk it in ChatGPT
Vita Health Coach also answers in ChatGPT. One tap opens ChatGPT with this question ready to send:
“What should I ask the doctor about my Urea and electrolytes (U&E) result?”
Questions
Is one low eGFR a sign of kidney disease?
Not on its own. A single result is a snapshot. Dehydration or a recent illness can lower it for a while, so a GP usually repeats the test and looks at the trend.
Should I avoid anything before a kidney blood test?
NICE advises not eating meat or fish in the 12 hours before the test, as it can raise creatinine for a short time. Tell your GP if you take creatine supplements.
Why does my eGFR seem off when I am very muscular?
eGFR is worked out from creatinine, which comes from muscle. People with a lot of muscle can get a lower reading, and people with little muscle a higher one. A cystatin C test may be used instead.
More for United Kingdom
Sources
General information, not medical advice. VitaMedas is not connected with any government health service. Vita Health Coach explains; it never diagnoses. In an emergency, call 999. Read the medical disclaimer.