Uric Acid Test – Indications, Procedures, Results

A uric acid blood test, also known as a serum uric acid test means how much uric acid is present in your blood. The test can help determine how well your body produces and removes uric acid. Uric acid is a chemical produced when your body breaks down foods that contain organic compounds called purines. Normal values range between 3.5 to 7.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)m and normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

If untreated, high uric acid levels may eventually lead to permanent bone, joint, and tissue damage, kidney disease, and heart disease. Research has also shown a link between high uric acid levels and type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver disease.

Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are found in some foods and drinks. These include liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas, and beer.

Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys. From there, it passes out in the urine. If your body produces too much uric acid or does not remove enough of it, you can get sick. A high level of uric acid in the blood is called hyperuricemia. This test checks to see how much uric acid you have in your blood. Another test can be used to check the level of uric acid in your urine.

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed. Most of the time blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand.

How to Prepare for the Test

You should not eat or drink anything for 4 hours before the test unless told otherwise.

Many medicines can interfere with blood test results.

  • Your health care provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test.
  • DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first.

Your provider may also tell you to stop taking any drugs that may affect the test results. Never stop taking any medicine without talking to your provider.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is done to see if you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. High levels of uric acid can sometimes cause gout or kidney disease.

You may have this test if you have had or are about to have certain types of chemotherapy. Rapid weight loss, which may occur with such treatments, can increase the amount of uric acid in your blood.

Normal Results

Normal values range between 3.5 and 7.2 mg/dL.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

The example above shows the common measurement range for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Greater-than-normal levels of uric acid (hyperuricemia) may be due to:

  • Acidosis
  • Alcoholism
  • Chemotherapy-related side effects
  • Diabetes
  • Excessive exercise
  • Gout
  • Hypoparathyroidism
  • Lead poisoning
  • Leukemia
  • Medullary cystic kidney disease
  • Nephrolithiasis
  • Polycythemia vera
  • Purine-rich diet
  • Renal failure
  • Toxemia of pregnancy

Lower-than-normal levels of uric acid may be due to:

  • Fanconi syndrome
  • Low purine diet
  • Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion
  • Wilson disease

Other reasons this test may be performed include:

  • Chronic gouty arthritis
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Injury of the kidney and ureter

Uric acid urine test

The uric acid urine test measures the level of uric acid in urine.

Uric acid level can also be checked using a blood test.

How the Test is Performed

A 24-hour urine sample is often needed. You will need to collect your urine over 24 hours . Your health care provider will tell you how to do this. Follow instructions exactly so that the results are accurate.

How to Prepare for the Test

Your health care provider may ask you to temporarily stop taking medicines that may affect the test results. Be sure to tell your provider about all the medicines you take. These include:

  • Aspirin or aspirin-containing medicines
  • Gout medicines
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)
  • Water pills (diuretics)

DO NOT stop taking any medicine before talking to your provider.

Be aware that alcoholic drinks, vitamin C, and x-ray dye can also affect test results.

How the Test will Feel

The test involves only normal urination. There is no discomfort.

Why the Test is Performed

This test may be done to help determine the cause of a high uric acid level in the blood. It may also be done to monitor people with gout, and to choose the best medicine to lower the uric acid level in the blood.

Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys, where it passes out in urine. If your body produces too much uric acid or does not remove enough of it, you may get sick. A high level of uric acid in the body is called hyperuricemia and it can lead to gout or kidney damage.

This test may also be done to check whether a high uric acid level is causing kidney stones.

Normal Results

Normal values range from 250 to 750 milligrams per 24 hours (1.48 to 4.43 millimoles per 24 hours).

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

A high uric acid level in the urine may be due to:

  • Body not being able to process purine ( Lesch-Nyhan syndrome)
  • Certain cancers that have spread (metastasized)
  • Disease that results in breakdown of muscle fibers ( rhabdomyolysis )
  • Disorders that affect the bone marrow (myeloproliferative disorder)
  • Fanconi syndrome
  • Gout
  • High-purine diet

A low uric acid level in the urine may be due to:

  • The kidney that is not able to get rid of uric acid well, can lead to gout or kidney damage
  • Kidneys that are not able to filter fluids and waste normally (chronic glomerulonephritis )
  • Lead poisoning
  • Long-term (chronic) alcohol use

Risks

There are no risks with this test and to avoid positive

  • wild game, such as deer (venison)
  • trout, tuna, haddock, sardines, anchovies, mussels, and herring.
  • excess alcohol, including beer and liquor.
  • high-fat foods, such as bacon, dairy products, and red meat (including veal)
  • organ meats, for example, liver and sweetbreads.
  • Organ and glandular meats. Avoid meats such as liver, kidney, and sweetbreads, which have high purine levels and contribute to high blood levels of uric acid.
  • Red meat.
  • Seafood.
  • High-purine vegetables.
  • Alcohol.
  • Sugary foods and beverages.
  • Vitamin C.
  • Coffee.

Food TO Eat

A high level of acid within the body can cause various health issues like arthritis. When our body isn’t ready to expel waste, it raises acid within the body, which forms solid crystals within the joints, called gout.
Like in another health issue, maintaining one’s health is of utmost importance. it’s extremely necessary to eat a diet that incorporates all the essential nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, good and healthy fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. People affected by high acid levels in the blood, find it difficult to select the proper and healthy foods that they will include in their diet. Hence, we’ve mentioned a couple of healthy food choices which will assist you in regulating acid within the body.
Green Tea
Green tea is rich with high catechin content which may be a potent antioxidant. Catechin, as believed by many, is employed to hamper the assembly of particular sorts of enzymes within the body. they’re associated with acid formation and thus, is extremely helpful in reducing the acid levels.
Fibre
Including fiber in your diet are often of great help. choosing a fiber-rich diet is often helpful to scale back the acid level within the body. Oats, whole grains, vegetables like broccoli, pumpkin, and celery should be included in the diet to lower the acid level. These sorts of foods are crammed with dietary fibers that are extremely beneficial in the absorption of the acid and in eliminating it from the body.
Vitamin C
Include vitamin C enriched fruits in your diet to urge the simplest results. Studies have shown that consumption of 500 mg of vitamin C a day can reduce the acid level during a short period. Orange or sweet lemon juices are rich in vitamin C content and thus, are often extremely helpful in providing you with the specified amount of vitamin C.
Cherries
For those affected by high levels of acid in their body, choosing the proper sorts of fruits can help in maintaining a level of acid. it’s always suggested to not include any citrus fruits within the diet when affected by increased levels of acid within the body. All the kinds of berries like strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, etc., have anti-inflammatory properties. Also, they’re high in fiber content which helps in promoting the reduction of acid within the blood.
Water or fluids
Water is one natural cleanser and fluid that flushes out the toxins from the body. So, definitely drink a minimum of 10- 12 glasses of water daily. Fluids, too, are beneficial as they assist in the removal of the acid from the body through excretion. Therefore, drinking more fluids and water will help in reducing the acid levels. But, remember to settle on the proper sort of juices and fluids.
Berries
Berries, generally, have anti-inflammatory properties made out of the substance called anthocyanins. This particular substance is useful and helpful in reducing high acid levels. It also prevents the acid from crystallizing and getting deposited within the joints which will later cause joint pains.
Fruits and tomatoes
Fruits, a bit like vegetables, are extremely helpful in providing relief from increasing levels of acid. Tomatoes, which also are counted as a fruit instead of a vegetable, are good for your body and their high vitamin C content can help in reducing the acid levels.

Cucumber and carrots
Carrots and cucumber are great for health if you’ve got high acid content within the body. Carrots are extremely rich in antioxidants that are good in controlling the assembly of enzymes. These enzymes promote the synthesis of acid within the blood. thanks to their high fiber content, they’re also helpful in expelling the acid content from the body. Cucumber is additionally an excellent option for those people with high acid within the blood.
Vegetables
Vegetables help in reducing the high acid level and also keep acid in check. However, if you’re diagnosed with a high level of acid, vegetables like spinach, asparagus, peas, and cauliflower should be avoided as they’ll contribute to extending the acid levels. Tomatoes, broccoli, and cucumbers are a number of the veggies that you simply got to start including in your meals.
Dark Chocolate
Theobromine is an alkaloid that’s similar in structure to caffeine which is mainly found within the cacao bean. it’s also at the very best content level in dark chocolates. Theobromine alkaloid is extremely helpful to scale back high acid levels because it can help relax the bronchial muscles of the lungs. The studies have also shown that it’s simpler than codeine, another sort of alkaloid, in relieving coughing.