The Uric Acid test contains 1 test with 1 biomarker.
Description: A Uric Acid test is a blood test that measures Uric Acid levels in your blood’s serum to screen for gout and monitor those undergoing chemotherapy or the development of kidney stones.
Also Known As: Serum Urate Test, UA Test
Collection Method: Blood Draw
Specimen Type: Serum
Test Preparation: No preparation required
Average Processing Time: 1 to 2 days
When is a Uric Acid test ordered?
When a healthcare provider suspects a patient has a high uric acid level, a uric acid blood test is ordered. Gout is a prevalent form of arthritis that affects some people who have excessive uric acid levels. Gout causes discomfort in the joints, most commonly in the toes but also in other joints. When cancer patients are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, the test is also ordered to verify that their uric acid levels do not rise dangerously high.
When a person has recurring kidney stones or gout and has to be monitored for the production of these stones, a urine uric acid test may be ordered.
What does a Uric Acid blood test check for?
Purines are broken down to form uric acid. Purines are nitrogen-containing molecules that can be found in all of the body's cells, including DNA. This test determines how much uric acid is present in the blood or urine.
Cells break down as they age and die, releasing purines into the bloodstream. Purines can also be obtained through the digestion of specific foods, such as liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas, and alcoholic beverages, particularly beer. The kidneys remove the majority of uric acid from the body, which is then excreted in the urine, with the remaining excreted in the stool.
When too much uric acid is created or not enough is eliminated from the body, it can build up in the body, causing blood levels to rise. Excess uric acid can induce gout, which is characterized by joint inflammation caused by the production of uric acid crystals in the joint fluid. Excess uric acid can also build up in tissues like the kidney, resulting in kidney stones or failure.
Too much uric acid in the body can occur as a result of creating too much, not removing enough, or a combination of both. Uric acid levels can rise as a result of an increase in cell death, as seen with some cancer treatments, or as a result of a rare hereditary tendency to make too much uric acid. Reduced uric acid removal is frequently caused by reduced renal function as a result of kidney disease.
Lab tests often ordered with a Uric Acid test:
- Complete Blood Count
- Iron Total and Total Iron binding capacity
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Lipid Panel
- Urinalysis Complete
Conditions where a Uric Acid test is recommended:
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Kidney Disease
How does my health care provider use a Uric Acid test?
The uric acid blood test is used to diagnose gout by detecting elevated levels of this molecule in the blood. The test is also used to monitor uric acid levels in persons who are receiving cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation. Rapid cell turnover can lead to a rise in uric acid levels as a result of such treatment.
The uric acid urine test is used to detect the source of recurring kidney stones and to monitor the production of stones in persons with gout.
What does my Uric Acid result mean?
Hyperuricemia is defined as blood uric acid levels that are higher than usual. It can be caused by the body creating too much uric acid or the kidneys failing to eliminate enough uric acid from the body. To determine the reason of uric acid overproduction or reduced elimination, more research is needed.
Purine break-down is affected by a number of genetic inborn defects. Increased uric acid production can be caused by cancer that has spread from its original place, leukemias, multiple myeloma, and cancer chemotherapy. Reduced uric acid elimination can be caused by chronic renal illness, acidosis, pregnancy toxemia, and alcoholism.
Increased uric acid levels can cause crystals to develop in the joints, resulting in the joint inflammation and pain associated with gout. Uric acid can form crystals or kidney stones, which can cause kidney injury.
Low uric acid levels in the blood are significantly less common than high ones, and they are rarely a cause for concern. Although low uric acid levels have been linked to liver and renal disease, Fanconi syndrome, toxic exposure, and in rare cases, a hereditary metabolic deficiency, these problems are usually detected by other tests and symptoms rather than a single low uric acid result.
We advise having your results reviewed by a licensed medical healthcare professional for proper interpretation of your results.
