Test Description

Serum uric acid measurements are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous renal and metabolic disorders, including renal failure, gout, leukemia, psoriasis, or starvation diets and is another by-production of protein metabolism eliminated through the kidneys.

When should this test be ordered?
This test is done to see if you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. High levels of uric acid can cause gout or kidney disease.
Your doctor may also order this test if you have had or are about to have certain types of chemotherapy. Rapid weight loss, which may occur with such treatments, can increase the amount of uric acid in your blood.
High Risk · Outside Reference Range
Male: <= 3.3 (mg/dL) & >= 7.1 (mg/dL)
Female: <= 2.3 (mg/dL) & >= 5.8 (mg/dL)
Borderline Risk · None
None determined for this assay.
Low Risk · Within Reference Range
Male: 3.4-7 (mg/dL)
Female: 2.4-5.7 (mg/dL)
Testing Method Used
Immunological Agglutination

Sample is stable for 5 days at 2-8°C

Please ship samples daily.
Improvements and Prevention
Your physician may prescribe medication to reduce high uric acid levels, especially for gout. Foods which should be eaten only in moderation that contribute to gout include meat, fish, poultry, and alcohol, in particular, beer.
Remaining well hydrated and reducing excess weight can also reduce problematic symptoms.
Specimen Type
Serum
Fasting Required
No, but may be done with other tests that requires fasting.
Drawing and Processing

tube1

  1. Draw from a vein into a SST tube
  2. Invert tube (do not shake) 1-2 times to mix adequately
  3. Let stand upright in tube rack for 30 minutes
  4. Centrifuge for 15 minutes at 3300rpm
  5. Do not leave at room temperature for more than 1 hour
  6. Keep cold in a refrigerator to maintain stability, until ready to ship
Shipping Instructions
  1. Freeze ice packs 24 hours prior to use
  2. Place ice packs inside the Styrofoam insulated kit
  3. Place processed tubes inside biohazard bag, place inside kit
  4. Seal box, print airbill and adhere to box and wait for courier to pick up
Rejection Criteria
QNS; temperature out of range upon receipt; grossly lipemic or hemolyzed; wrong specimen type; sample stability exceeded for this analyte; unlabeled or mislabeled specimen.
References

1. Cirillo P, Sato W, Reungjui S et al. (December 2006). “Uric acid, the metabolic syndrome, and renal disease”.

The information provided here is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used or substituted as medical advice. You should consult a healthcare practitioner regarding medical diagnosis or treatment.