Your dialysis unit may use the Kt/V ratio instead of URR. This is fine. However, since there are a number of different formulas for figuring Kt/V it is very important to equate it with URR. Ask for the values pre and post BUN which were used to calculate your Kt/V. Use those pre and post BUN values in the example provided to calculate your URR. The Kt/V should not be calculated from numbers provided by the manufacturer for the efficiency of the dialyzer but must be calculated with the same blood tests as the URR. It is also important to distinguish between what Kt/V the doctor prescribes and what Kt/V is delivered; i.e., what you actually receive.

AAKP’s recommendations for a minimum adequate dialysis is a delivered Kt/V above 1.2. If your unit uses the Kt/V ratio, substitute the Kt/V above for the URR values in the discussion of the questions you should ask your doctor.