U&E

Medical abbreviation · Laboratory Test

U&E
Stands forUrea and electrolytes
CategoriesMedical

U&E stands for Urea and electrolytes, a laboratory test abbreviation.

Routine British and Commonwealth blood panel measuring sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine, often with bicarbonate and an eGFR. It plays the role of the American basic metabolic panel in checking kidney function and fluid balance before surgery, after starting diuretics and in acutely unwell patients.

Example: Bloods: FBC, U&E, CRP and a group and save before theatre.

Usage notes

Often written U&Es and spoken "U and Es". Urea is reported in mmol/L rather than as blood urea nitrogen in mg/dL; to convert, multiply BUN in mg/dL by 0.357. Creatinine is likewise reported in micromoles per liter (88.4 micromol/L equals 1 mg/dL), which can confuse readers comparing UK and US results.

More laboratory test abbreviations

  • TG – Triglycerides
  • TIBC – Total iron-binding capacity
  • TP – Total protein
  • TSAT – Transferrin saturation
  • TSH – Thyroid-stimulating hormone
  • TT – Thrombin time
  • UA – Urinalysis
  • UACR – Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio
  • UCx – Urine culture
  • UDS – Urine drug screen
  • UPT – Urine pregnancy test
  • VBG – Venous blood gas

See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.