Uric Acid In Blood
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Test Overview
The blood uric acid test measures the amount of uric acid in a blood sample. Uric acid is produced from the breakdown of your body's cells and from the food you eat.
Most of the uric acid is filtered out by the kidneys and passes out of the body in urine; the rest passes out of the body in stool. However, if too much uric acid is being produced or if the kidneys are not able to remove it from the blood normally, the level of uric acid in the blood increases.
High levels of uric acid in the blood can build up in the body. This can cause a painful condition called gout. If gout remains untreated, uric acid crystals can build up in the joints and nearby tissues, forming hard deposits called tophi. High levels of uric acid may also cause kidney stones or kidney failure.
| Last updated: | December 21, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC |
| Reviewed By: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Terrina Vail |
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