Uric Acid
Serum Uric Acid
Uric acid forms when your body breaks down substances called purines, found in your cells and some foods. It normally leaves mainly through your kidneys. When too much builds up, it can form crystals in joints or the urinary tract.
Try your Uric Acid result.
A quick one-marker check. Vita can score it better once it sees the full lab report around it.
What does a high uric acid result mean?
A high result increases the chance of gout or some kidney stones, but many people with high uric acid never develop gout. The number alone does not diagnose a painful joint or mean you need medication.
When is uric acid elevated?
- Below the elevated-urate threshold
- Below 6.8 mg/dL (about 405 µmol/L)
- Elevated urate
- 6.8 mg/dL or more (about 405 µmol/L or more)
The ACR guideline defines elevated urate at 6.8 mg/dL or higher in people without prior gout flares or tophi. An elevated result does not diagnose gout or automatically mean medication is needed. A lower result during a painful flare cannot rule out gout.
Why your treatment goal may differ
For people receiving urate-lowering treatment for gout, a common treatment goal is below 6 mg/dL (about 360 µmol/L). That target is separate from the elevated-urate threshold. Your clinician may choose a different goal.
Sources: American College of Rheumatology
What can change this result?
What can raise it
- Alcohol, especially beer, and sugary drinks.
- Frequently eating organ meats, red meat or some seafood.
- Inherited differences, reduced kidney filtering or medicines such as some water tablets.
What can help lower it
- Cutting back on alcohol and sugary drinks.
- Gradual weight loss if you have excess weight; avoid crash diets.
- Urate-lowering medicines, such as allopurinol, when prescribed.
Diet is only part of the picture and usually has a modest effect. People with gout may need medication even with consistent lifestyle changes.
What should I do next?
- Tell your clinician about joint attacks, kidney stones and current medicines.
- If you have gout, ask about your target and a plan for repeat tests. Food changes may help but may not replace medication.
- A newly hot, swollen, painful joint needs medical assessment, particularly with fever, because infection can resemble gout.
How this test works
Uric acid levels reflect both production and removal. A result can be lower during a gout attack, so a single blood test cannot reliably confirm or exclude gout in a painful joint.