Uric acid is a waste product; checking it helps assess gout risk and kidney health.
Uric acid is a waste product made when your body breaks down purines, substances found in your own cells and in foods like red meat, seafood, and beer. The kidneys clear most of it.
When the body makes too much or the kidneys clear too little, uric acid builds up in the blood, where it can form sharp crystals in the joints.
A high uric acid is the main cause of gout, where crystals trigger sudden, painful joint inflammation, often in the big toe. It is also linked to kidney stones and goes along with high blood pressure and metabolic problems.
A low uric acid is uncommon and rarely a concern on its own. The value helps explain joint pain and guides choices about diet and treatment.
Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.
| Group | Serum uric acid (SI) |
| Men | ~200 to 430 µmol/L |
| Women | ~140 to 360 µmol/L |
Ranges are guidance only and vary by lab and sex. For people with gout, a treatment target below 360 µmol/L is often used. To convert, 1 mg/dL is about 59.5 µmol/L. Read against your own lab's interval.
A purine rich meal, alcohol, dehydration, and fasting can raise uric acid. Some medicines, including certain diuretics and low dose aspirin, raise it, while others lower it. During an acute gout attack the blood level can be misleadingly normal.
Best read with kidney markers (creatinine and eGFR), and with glucose and lipids when metabolic health is the focus.
What do my results mean? High levels can happen when kidneys clear less uric acid or when production is higher, which may raise gout or stone risk. Low levels are uncommon and often medication-related; context matters.
Do I need to fast? No. Fasting isn’t required for this test. Drinking water beforehand can help the blood draw.
What can affect the result? Dehydration, alcohol, big purine-rich meals, hard exercise, and medicines like diuretics or low-dose aspirin can shift values. Tell your clinician about supplements and urate-lowering drugs.
How often should I test it? If you have gout, kidney disease, or take urate-lowering therapy, testing may be every few months until stable. Otherwise, check as part of routine labs or as your clinician advises.
How fast are results ready? Results are usually ready in about 7 days.
What should I discuss with my clinician? Share your symptoms, medications, kidney history, and diet patterns. Ask if more tests or lifestyle steps could help manage your levels.
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