Uric Acid Test

Uric acid is a nitrogenous compound formed as a waste product of the metabolic activities of purines. Purines are compounds that cells use to make the building blocks of DNA and RNA. They are generally found in foods and drinks like seafood, alcohol, sweetened beverages, etc.

Uric acid is a waste product from the purines, which is dissolved in the blood and travels to the kidneys and from the kidneys, it is excreted in the urine.

Most of the uric acid is filtered and eliminated by the kidneys. With stool, another small amount is eliminated. But if there is a high level of purines, it leads to a high uric acid content in the blood. It may cause many health problems like gouty arthritis, kidney stones and kidney failure.

So to measure the amount of uric acid in the blood, the uric acid test is done by taking blood as a sample.

Symptoms like pain, inflammation and kidney stones in the human body recommend a uric acid test. Healthcare professionals recommend a uric acid test for diagnosis and monitoring when a person suffers from gout or kidney stones.

A uric acid blood test is also prescribed for a person who has been treated for cancer with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These methods kill cancer cells, which may increase the formation of uric acid and cause several health disorders.

In addition to the uric acid test, several other tests can detect diseases such as gouty arthritis and kidney problems. For this, you may have to test your blood and urine to find out what's exactly causing the high levels of uric acid in the blood.

Also, to confirm the diagnosis of the disease, other specific tests may be taken. A needle may be used to take a sample of joint fluid which will be sent to the lab to rule out another morbidity.

Moreover, if your doctor doubts kidney stones, you may also have to undergo a urinalysis. During urinalysis, crystals, blood and white blood cells are screened.

Hyperuricemia, Kidney stones, Chronic renal disease, Inflammation, Arthritis

Blood tests for uric acid are usually conducted to assess the amount of uric acid in the blood. Whether you have gouty arthritis or kidney stones, it can be diagnosed based on uric acid levels.

For a screening process, your physician will prescribe a uric acid test when:

• You are about to start chemotherapy
• You have frequent kidney stones
• You were diagnosed with gout in the past

The diagnostic test for uric acid will show you the amount of uric acid in the blood if it is elevated. If this occurs, a diet change or treatment may be necessary. An expert like a nephrologist or a urologist is the best choice for treating this condition.

These symptoms can be indicators that there is too much or not enough uric acid in the blood in the case of gouty arthritis.

Some symptoms are:

• Severe pain in joints, especially in the toe, ankle and knee
• Reddish or shiny skin around the joints
• Warmness around the joints when touched
• Stiffness around the affected joints
• Swelling, particularly over the toe, ankle and knee joints
• Limited range of movement of the toe, ankle and knee joint

Some people may show symptoms of kidney stones like:

• Blood in the urine
• Back pain
• Frequent urge to urinate
• Bad smell in urine
• Cloudiness in urine
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pain when urinating
• Severe or mild pain in the abdomen, side or groin

Apart from the above symptoms, some additional symptoms occur when chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used for cancer treatment. This treatment can raise the level of uric acid in the blood and leads to several diseases.

The uric acid blood test should be repeated every year to ensure that the uric acid levels are still low enough and to check kidney functions.

Also, after starting management for those suffering from gout disease, it is essential to test for uric acid every six months to know about the efficacy of the treatment.

A uric acid test helps with the diagnosis of hyperuricemia, gout and to detect kidney stones.

If the uric acid test results confirm a diagnosis, the patient should take appropriate medications to avoid further complications.

What to Expect During the Test

Before the Test

Usually, there's no need to make any special preparations for the Uric Acid  test. However, if your doctor has recommended this test along with another one that requires fasting, they might advise you to avoid certain foods. Talk to your doctor before any test for the best outcomes.

During the Test

A vein in your arm will be pricked to collect a blood sample. Here's what you can anticipate during the procedure:

• The site where the needle is inserted will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution.
• A tourniquet will be applied to your arm to make finding the veins easier.
• A needle will be inserted into the vein to draw blood. You might experience a quick pinch for a few seconds.
• The blood will be collected in a vial/tube, which will be labelled with your details.

After the Test

After the blood has been drawn:

• A bandage will be applied to the area where the needle was inserted to prevent any bleeding.
• It's normal to have some bruising. Some people might feel dizzy and should rest for a few minutes.
• In case of bleeding, pain, or rashes at the site of the puncture, it's important to reach out to your healthcare provider.

A uric acid test measures uric acid levels in the blood to determine whether they are normal, high or low.

Uric acid is generally measured in mg/dL which varies with the sex of the individual. In females, a value above 6 mg/dL and in males, a value above 7 mg/dL is considered high and needs appropriate treatment.

A low uric acid level is rare and less found in the uric acid blood test.

The ideal uric acid ranges are between 2.5-6.2 mg/dL.

The normal range of uric acid can vary in males, females and children :

• Adult Female: 2.4 to 6.0 mg/dL

• Adult Male: 3.4 to 7.0 mg/dL

• Children: 2.0 to 5.5 mg/dL

The normal values and reference ranges of the test may vary from lab to lab. Please refer to the ranges mentioned in the report and consult a doctor to understand the interpretation of lab reports.

The interpretation of any diagnostic test is a critical factor for diagnosing the level and what that high or low level implies and after that, proper management will be followed.

High level of uric acid in the blood

If uric acid test results show a high level of uric acid in the blood, it implies hyperuricemia. Patients can suffer from this condition. Most commonly, hyperuricemia manifests as gout, a painful condition. This elevated level is the result of increased production of uric acid or decreased excretion of uric acid.

Along with gouty arthritis, hyperuricemia has also been an indicator for diseases like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and chronic renal disease.

Some of the common characteristics of high uric acid in the blood are:

• Permanent bone damage
• Chronic tissue damage
• Degenerative joint disease
• Kidney disorder
• Heart disease
• Gout
• Leukaemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Side effects of cancer treatment
• Obesity

Low level of uric acid in the blood

If the uric acid test result is low, it may increase the risk of kidney disease or liver disease.

Fanconi syndrome is a disorder of the kidney tubules that prevents the absorption of glucose and uric acid, causing lower uric acid levels in the blood.

An Uric Acid test can have varying costs depending on the city and the laboratory. Typically, the price for a Uric Acid test falls between INR 159 and INR 329. Here's a breakdown of the average expenses for a Uric Acid test in select major cities in India: