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Overview

What Is a Uric Acid Blood Test?

Uric acid is a waste product made when the body breaks down substances called purines. A uric acid blood test measures the amount of uric acid circulating in a blood sample. The report may call this result the uric acid level or serum urate level.

Clinicians use the result with your symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and other tests. A urate blood test may help evaluate gout, kidney stones, kidney concerns, or unusually high or low uric acid, but it does not provide a diagnosis on its own.

When It Is Needed

Why Is a Uric Acid Blood Test Done?

  • Suspected gout or another cause of painful, swollen joints
  • Possible uric acid kidney stones or kidney-related concerns
  • Monitoring known high uric acid or treatment for gout
  • Evaluating medical conditions or medicines that can change uric acid levels

Joint pain or swelling does not prove that high uric acid is the cause. A normal or elevated result must be considered alongside the pattern of symptoms, examination findings, medicines, kidney health, and other test results. The reason for elevated uric acid may be related to reduced kidney removal, increased production, diet, health conditions, or medicines.

Preparation

How to Prepare for a Uric Acid Blood Test

Fasting is not always required for an isolated uric acid test. Follow the instructions from the ordering clinician or laboratory, because other blood tests collected at the same time may require fasting. Ask what to do if you are unsure.

  • Follow any fasting instructions provided for this test or other blood tests ordered with it.
  • Drink water unless your healthcare professional has restricted fluids.
  • Tell the testing team about medicines and supplements, including gout treatment.
  • Do not stop prescribed medicines unless your clinician specifically instructs you to do so.

During the Test

What Happens During the Test?

A uric acid blood test is a single-session blood draw. A healthcare professional cleans the skin, inserts a needle into a vein—usually in the arm—and collects blood into a tube for laboratory analysis.

  • The needle insertion may feel like a brief pinch.
  • The arm may feel mild pressure while the sample is collected.
  • A small bandage is usually placed after the needle is removed.
  • The blood sample is sent for measurement of the uric acid level.

Risks

Risks of a Uric Acid Blood Test

Most people have no serious problems after this blood test. Minor effects can include brief pain, bruising, slight bleeding, soreness, or lightheadedness near the blood-draw site.

Blood draw safety

Report unusual symptoms

Tell the healthcare professional if you feel faint during the draw. Contact a clinician if bleeding does not stop or the site develops worsening pain, redness, swelling, or drainage.

Results

Understanding Uric Acid Blood Test Results

The report gives a numeric uric acid result, usually in mg/dL or another unit specified by the laboratory. It also lists that laboratory’s reference range. Normal uric acid levels can vary by laboratory and may be interpreted differently depending on factors such as age, sex, health conditions, medicines, and symptoms.

Result patternWhat it may meanImportant context
Below the reference rangeMay indicate low uric acid, which can have several causesInterpret with medicines, kidney or liver health, and other results
Within the reference rangeFalls within that laboratory's stated rangeA normal result does not by itself rule out gout or another condition
Above the reference rangeIndicates elevated uric acid or hyperuricemiaDoes not by itself prove gout; symptoms and additional testing may be needed

Follow-up may include reviewing medicines and health conditions or repeating the test. If gout is suspected, a clinician may examine joint fluid for urate crystals. Urine testing and kidney-related tests may also be appropriate when symptoms or medical history suggest a kidney problem. A uric acid level that is high does not automatically show how serious the underlying cause is.

Diseases & Conditions

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