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.

Other names of uric acid test

• Serum urate
• UA
• Serum uric acid test

What does the test measure and for whom is this prescribed?

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.

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.

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.

The results of a uric acid test are based on the analysis of a blood sample. A uric acid test is carried out with a single sample of blood.

Test preparation

For the uric acid test, there is no need for any specific preparation like fasting. It is a simple blood test requiring only a small amount of blood.

But, before the uric acid blood test, you must refrain from:

• Alcohol
• Certain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen
• Eating and drinking 4 hours before the test

What parameters are included?

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 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.

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

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: