78537-8

LOINC code 78537-8 identifies "Urea nitrogen [Moles/volume] in Peritoneal dialysis fluid --4 hour dwell specimen". A Peritoneal Equilibration Test (PET) is used to assess transport properties of the peritoneal membrane in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Patients arrive at the dialysis unit in the morning with their overnight dwell fluid still in the abdomen. The overnight fluid is drained, and after complete drainage, in the classic PET, 2000 ml of a 2.27% glucose solution is instilled and peritoneal dialysis is begun. Ten ml samples are drawn at time 0, 2, and 4 hours to measure creatinine, urea, and glucose. The PET assesses the rate of solute equilibration between peritoneal capillary blood and dialysate based on the ratio of the solute concentrations in dialysate and plasma (D/P). PET results are used to adjust various aspects of a patient's peritoneal dialysis regimen, including dwell time, number of exchanges, and dialysis volume and composition. [PMID: 7474677]

This code measures Urea nitrogen^4H dwell specimen in Dial fld prt. It belongs to the CHEM class in the LOINC classification.

LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes) is a universal standard for identifying laboratory and clinical observations. It is maintained by the Regenstrief Institute and used worldwide for health data exchange.