Uric Acid: Uric Acid Testing

Uric Acid and Uric Acid Testing

Definition

Uric acid tests are tests that are done to measure the levels of uric acid in blood serum or in urine.

Purpose

Key Terms

Fanconi's syndrome A rare disorder caused by vitamin D deficiency or exposure to heavy metals. Gout A metabolic disorder characterized by sudden recurring attacks of arthritis caused by deposits of crystals that build up in the joints due to abnormally high uric acid blood levels. In gout, uric acid may be overproduced, underexcreted, or both. Hyperuricemia Excessively high levels of uric acid in the blood, often producing gout. Purine A white crystalline substance that is one of the building blocks of DNA. Uric acid is produced when purine is broken down in the body. Uric acid A compound resulting from the body's breakdown of purine. It is normally present in human urine only in small amounts. Uricosuria Increased levels of uric acid in the urine. Wilson's disease A rare hereditary disease marked by the buildup of copper in the liver and brain, causing loss of kidney function.

Further Reading

For Your Information

Books
• Laboratory Test Handbook, edited by David S. Jacobs. Cleveland, OH: Lexi-Comp Inc., 1996.
  
• Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, edited by Kathleen Deska Pagana and Timothy James Pagana. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, Inc., 1998.
  
• Springhouse Corporation. Handbook of Diagnostic Tests, edited by Matthew Cahill. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corporation, 1995.
  

Bio

Precautions

Blood test

Patients scheduled for a blood test for uric acid should be checked for the following medications: loop diuretics (Diamox, Bumex, Edecrin, or Lasix); ethambutol (Myambutol); vincristine (Oncovin); pyrazinamide (Tebrazid); thiazide diuretics (Naturetin, Hydrex, Diuril, Esidrix, HydroDiuril, Aquatensen, Renese, Diurese); aspirin (low doses); acetaminophen (Tylenol); ascorbic acid (vitamin C preparations); levodopa (Larodopa); or phenacetin. These drugs can affect test results.

Abnormal results

The critical value for the blood test is a level of uric acid higher than 12 milligrams per deciliter (about 4 ounces).

Description

The uric acid blood test is performed on a sample of the patient's blood, withdrawn from a vein into a vacuum tube. The procedure, which is called a venipuncture, takes about five minutes. The urine test requires the patient to collect all urine voided over a 24-hour period, with the exception of the very first specimen. The patient keeps the specimen container on ice or in the refrigerator during the collection period. The results of one reading this composition is a good understanding on the topic of Purine. So do go ahead and read this to learn more about Purine.

• Certain foods that are high in purine may increase the patient's levels of uric acid.
  
• These include kidneys, liver, sweetbreads, sardines, anchovies, and meat extracts.
  

Risks

Risks for the blood test are minimal, but may include slight bleeding from the puncture site, a small bruise or swelling in the area, or fainting or feeling lightheaded. Writing an article on Kidney Stones was our foremost priority while thinking of a topic to write on. This is because Kidney Is sleep apnea one of the causes of gout? of our lives, and are needed by us. .




Decreased excretion of uric acid is seen in chronic kidney disease, low thyroid, toxemia of pregnancy, and alcoholism. Naturally cure gout: top 5 tips to treat gout naturally less than half the uric acid in their blood as other persons. Only 10-15% of the total cases of hyperuricemia, however, are caused by gout. We were furnished with so many points to include while writing about Uric Acid that we were actually lost as to which to use and which to discard!

Uric Acid is a Waste Product that Results from the

Breakdown of purine, a nucleic acid. (Nucleic acids are the building blocks of DNA.) Uric acid is made in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. If the liver produces too much uric acid or the kidneys excrete too little, the patient will have too much uric acid in the blood. This condition is called hyperuricemia. Supersaturated uric acid in the urine (uricosuria) can crystallize gout forum kidney stones that may block the tubes that lead from the kidneys to the bladder (the ureters). Remember that it is very important to have a disciplined mode of writing when writing. This is because it is difficult to complete something started if there is no discipline in writing especially when writing on Gout Uric Acid.

Urine test

Patients should be checked for the following medications before the urine test: diuretics, aspirin, pyrazinamide (Tebrazid), phenylbutazone, probenecid (Benemid), and allopurinol (Lopurin). If the patient needs to continue taking these medications, the laboratory should be notified.

Normal results

Blood test

Reference values for blood uric acid vary from laboratory to laboratory but are generally found within the following range: Male: 2.1-8.5 mg/dL; female: 2.0-6.6 mg/dL. Values may be slightly higher in the elderly. It is only through sheer determination that we were able to complete this composition on Purines. Determination, and regular time table for writing helps in writing essays, reports and articles.

Steve Warshaw

Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist With over 15 years expereience developing training and nutrition programs for top level executives from companies such as Microsoft, Boeing, and Symetra Corp, Steve has established himself as a health and wellness expert.

The Internet Guide: Gout - http://gout.smartadsscrets.com The Internet Guide: Purines - http://gout.smartadssecrets.com/purines.

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