Uric Acid

A uric acid blood test, also known as a serum uric acid measurement, determines how much uric acid is present in your blood. The test can help determine how well your body produces and removes uric acid.

• Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid in the bloodstream.
• The symptoms of gout are due to the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints and the body’s response to them.
• Gout most classically affects the joint in the base of the big toe.
• Gout attacks often occur without warning in the middle of the night.
• Most gout cases are treated with specific medications.

High levels of uric acid are associated with a condition called gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that causes swelling of the joints, especially in the feet and big toes. Another cause of hyperuricemia is increased cell death, due to cancer or cancer treatments. This can lead to an accumulation of uric acid in the body.

It’s also possible to have too little uric acid in your blood, which is a symptom of liver or kidney disease. It’s also a symptom of Fanconi syndrome, a disorder of the kidney tubules that prevents the absorption of substances such as glucose and uric acid. These substances are then passed in the urine instead.

• diagnose and monitor people with gout
• monitor people who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment
• check kidney function after an injury
• find the cause of kidney stones
• diagnose kidney disorders

• you have joint pain or swelling that may be related to gout
• you’re currently undergoing chemotherapy
• you’re about to start chemotherapy
• you have frequent kidney stones
• you’ve been diagnosed with gout in the past

High levels of uric acid in your blood typically indicate that your body is making too much uric acid or that your kidneys aren’t removing enough uric acid from your body. 

High uric acid levels in your blood can also indicate of a variety of conditions, including:

• diabetes
• gout, which involves recurring attacks of acute arthritis
• chemotherapy
• bone marrow disorders, such as leukemia
• a diet high in purines
• hypoparathyroidism, which is a decrease in your parathyroid function
• kidney disorders, such as acute kidney failure
• kidney stones
• multiple myeloma, which is cancer of the plasma cells in your bone marrow
• metastasized cancer, which is cancer that has spread from its original site

Blood draws are routine and very safe. The risks associated with a uric acid blood test are the same as those associated with any blood draw. Uric acid blood tests may cause:

• pain or discomfort at the puncture site
• bleeding
• fainting or light headedness
• an accumulation of blood under your skin, such as hematoma or bruising
• infection at the puncture site