A uric acid blood work, also known as a serum uric acid level, measures how much uric acid is present in the blood. This test help to evaluate how well the system makes and removes uric acid.

Uric acid is a chemical produced when the body breaks down foods containing organic elements called purines. Some of the food sources that are rich in purines include liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans, beer, and wine.

Purines are also made by the natural process of cell breakdown in the body. Most of the uric acid is suspended in the blood, filtered via the kidneys, and eliminated in the urine. At times the body makes excess amounts of uric acid or doesn’t efficiently filter it out. Hyperuricemia is a disorder that develops when a person has excess amounts of uric acid in the body. High levels of uric acid are usually linked to a condition called gout, which is a form of arthritis that results in swelling of the joints, mainly the feet and big toes. Also, a high rate of cell death due to cancer or cancer treatment can lead to the accumulation of uric acid in the system and elevate the levels in the blood. While too little uric acid in the blood can be a sign of liver or kidney ailment.

Too little uric acid may be a symptom of Fanconi syndrome which is a disorder of the kidney tubules that impedes the absorption of substances like glucose and uric acid and these substances are excreted in the urine.

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Also Read: Gout: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Purposes Of A Uric Acid Blood Test

Your healthcare provider may recommend this test to:

• Diagnose and evaluate gout
• Observe patients who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment
• Determine kidney function after an injury
• To find the cause of kidney stones
• Diagnose kidney disorders

Also Read: High Levels Of Uric Acid? Learn How To Bring It Down

How To Prepare For A Uric Acid Blood Test?

It is important to inform your healthcare provider about any medications or supplements you’re taking before the test, as the following may interfere with your uric acid test results:

• Alcohol
• Certain medications
• High levels of vitamin C
• Dyes used in X-ray tests

You have to be in fasting state (refrain from eating or drinking) for 4 hours before the test.

How A Uric Acid Blood Test Is Done?

Your lab technician will collect the blood sample from a vein, generally from the inner elbow or the back of the hand. The collected blood is sent to a laboratory for analysis.

What Does The Test Results Mean?

The uric acid levels may vary based on sex.

Normal values range from 1.5 to 6.0 mg/dL for women

Normal values range from 2.5 to 7.0 mg/dL for men

Generally, low levels of uric acid are less common than high levels and do not pose any health concern.

Hyperuricemia is a condition where blood uric acid level is greater than 6.0 mg/dL in women and greater than 7.0mg/dL in men. The targeted level of uric acid should be less than 6.0mg/dL for a person with gout.

High uric acid levels usually indicate that the system is producing too much uric acid or that kidneys aren’t eliminating uric acid from the body.

High uric acid levels in the blood can also signify several other causes, including:

• Diabetes
• Gout, with constant attacks of acute arthritis
• Chemotherapy
• Bone marrow disorders, such as leukemia
• A diet high in purines
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Acute kidney failure
• Kidney stones
• Multiple myeloma
• Metastasized cancer

A blood uric acid test alone is not considered as a definitive test for gout. Testing a patient’s joint fluid for monosodium urate can convincingly confirm the diagnosis of gout.

However, your physician can make an accomplished diagnosis based on the high blood levels and gout symptoms of the patient. Also, it’s likely to have high uric acid levels without any symptoms of gout. This is condition is known as asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Low levels of uric acid in the blood may indicate:

• Wilson’s disease
• Fanconi syndrome
• Liver or kidney disease
• A diet low in purines

What Are The Risks Of A Uric Acid Blood Test?

Blood sample tests are routine and considered safe. Moreover, the risk linked with a uric acid blood test is the same as those linked with any blood draw, which includes:

• Pain at the puncture site
• Bleeding
• Fainting
• Bruising
• Infection at the puncture site

After The Uric Acid Test

The uric acid blood work results can help physicians determine appropriate treatment plans. In a few cases, the patient may not require any treatment.

If the gout diagnosis is confirmed, then a physician may prescribe medication to ease swelling and pain.

Dietary modifications to cut down on purine-rich foods may also help and modifying the diet can help if the patient suffers from chronic uric acid kidney stones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need To Give The Sample In A Fasting State?

You would be advised not to eat or drink anything at least for 4 hours before the test. Also, you would be instructed to stop taking any medication during that time, which would impede the uric acid test results.

How Can I Get A Uric Acid Test?

The uric acid test is generally done at the hospital, doctor’s clinic, or laboratory. These tests are usually requested by a doctor but may be available without orders from doctors at walk-in laboratories.

Can High Levels Of Uric Acid Be Cured?

When uric acid levels are high, urate crystals are formed in the joints, which results in intense pain and inflammation. This condition is termed gout. There is no complete remedy to permanently treat gout, which is why it should be treated before the conditions worsen. The key goal of treatment is to ease symptoms during an attack and avert recurrence. In most cases, doctors provide medication to reduce the blood uric acid levels.