What it is: A uric acid blood test measures the level of uric acid, a waste product from the breakdown of purines (found in certain foods and in the body's own cells), in the blood.
Why it's ordered: Ordered to help diagnose gout, evaluate joint pain and swelling, monitor uric acid during chemotherapy or radiation, or investigate recurrent kidney stones.
What it detects: When the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys don't clear enough, it can build up and form sharp crystals in joints (causing gout) or in the kidneys (causing kidney stones).
Collection & prep: A standard blood draw from a vein in the arm. No special preparation, including fasting, is typically required.
Results:
High (hyperuricemia) – associated with gout and kidney stone risk, though not everyone with high levels develops symptoms; roughly above 6.0 mg/dL (women) or 7.0 mg/dL (men)
Normal – roughly 2.5–6.0 mg/dL (women) and 3.5–7.0 mg/dL (men)
Possible complications of high uric acid: Elevated uric acid can lead to gout attacks (sudden, severe joint pain, often in the big toe) and, over time, to kidney stones or kidney damage; management typically involves dietary changes and sometimes medication.
Statements made in the Clinical Manual have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
