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Gout (Uric Acid) Test
Gout (Uric Acid) Test
Measure the level of uric acid in your blood, which is useful for diagnosing and monitoring gout and kidney stones. Read moreTest details
Sample type:
Blood
Preparation:
You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection.
This test does not require fasting.
$39.00
+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee
What
Measures the level of uric acid in your blood.
Who
Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.
How
Blood
Where
Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.
About the Test
Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe and often at night. Gout can develop in individuals who have high levels of uric acid in the blood.
Our Uric Acid Test identifies whether you have abnormal uric acid levels in your blood. Uric acid is a normal waste product in your blood. The body makes uric acid when it breaks down purines, substances found in the cells of the body and in the food we eat. Most uric acid dissolves in blood, travels to the kidneys, and is removed from the body in urine. However, if too much uric acid builds up in the blood it can form into crystals in the joints, causing gout, a common and complex form of arthritis. These crystals can also settle into the kidneys and form kidney stones, or in extreme cases, cause kidney failure.
How Does it Work?
Take an in-person test at a Quest Diagnostics location.
Over 2000+ locations focus on your safety, confidentiality and convenience.
1. Purchase your test
Schedule your appointment after purchasing a test to minimize wait time.
2. Visit a location
Enter your zip code to find a Quest Diagnostics location closest to you.
3. Get results online
We will email you when your confidential results are available.
Take an in-person test at a Quest Diagnostics location.
Over 2000+ locations focus on your safety, confidentiality and convenience.
1. Purchase your test
Schedule your appointment after purchasing a test to minimize wait time.
2. Visit a location
Enter your zip code to find a Quest Diagnostics location closest to you.
3. Get results online
We will email you when your confidential results are available.
What to expect with Quest
Health insights, on your terms
Get lab work without having to wait and pay for an appointment with a doctor. Shop questhealth.com and choose from 75+ tests – the same quality tests that doctors use and trust, but no doctor visit required for purchase.
Easy to buy & simple to schedule
After your purchase, schedule an appointment at a nearby Quest Diagnostics location and have your specimen sample collected by a trained healthcare professional.
Fast online results, with support
Access test results from your phone as soon as they’re available, with the option to discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.
FAQs
Gout is an intensely painful and potentially disabling form of arthritis. It is characterized by sudden attacks of severe pain and swelling in joints, particularly the big toe, knee, or ankle; joints that feel warm to the touch; shiny, reddish skin around the joints; and limited range of motion. Gout occurs when excess uric acid collects in the body, and needle-like urate crystals (monosodium urate) deposit in the joints resulting in a strong inflammatory response.
In most cases, uric acid is transported through the blood to the kidneys, which filter and eliminate it from the body through urine. Yet sometimes the body produces excessively high levels of uric acid or the kidneys are unable to eliminate it effectively, resulting in the formation of crystals in certain joints and causing gout.
Excess uric acid can become concentrated in the urine and crystallize into kidney stones, impairing proper kidney function. These stones form when uric acid levels in the urine are too high (uricosuria) or when the urine is too acidic.
The following factors may increase your risk of developing hyperuricemia, which may cause gout or uric acid kidney stones:
- Being overweight or obese
- Drinking alcohol
- Living with certain chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, insulin resistance, diabetes, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or hemolytic disorders
- Receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Eating a purine-rich diet
- Consuming foods and drinks high in sugar
- Being affected by lead toxicity or lead poisoning
You may be able to lower your uric acid levels by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet. In addition, avoiding or limiting purine-rich foods, such as red meat, liver, sardines, lobster, crab, and alcohol, particularly beer, may help lower your uric acid levels.
Hyperuricemia is a sign indicating an abnormally high uric acid level in the blood, which may be associated with different medical conditions. Gout occurs when excess uric acid forms uric acid crystals in joints. Hyperuricemia does not always result in gout, although it can lead to gout and kidney stones.