Why is this procedure done?
Uric acid is made when your body breaks down purines. Purines are compounds found in your cells. When a cell dies, purines are released. Your body breaks down the purine into uric acid. You excrete the uric acid in your urine. Purines are also found in foods like seafood, liver, and beans. Beer also contains purines. Sometimes the body has too much uric acid. Other times your body may not get rid of enough uric acid. This test is done to see how much uric acid you have in your blood. ‚
The doctor may order this test: ‚
- To see if too much uric acid is causing gout or kidney problems
- To monitor gout treatment
- If you had or are having certain chemo treatments and are losing too much weight
- To check for certain types of cancers
- To check for liver problems
- To learn if the drugs you are taking are affecting your uric acid levels
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What will the results be?
- The doctor will look at the results of your test. The doctor will know if you have an illness that needs treatment.
- If the results are normal, it means your body is likely working in a normal way.
- If the results are not normal, you may have an illness. Your doctor may order more tests to learn more about what is wrong.
- The doctor will talk with you about treatment.
What happens before the procedure?
- There are no special things to do before the test.
- Talk to your doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking. Some drugs like aspirin can affect the results of your uric acid test.
- Any bleeding problems
- Your diet
- Your alcohol intake
What happens during the procedure?
It will only take a few minutes to have this test. You will be awake the whole time. You will have a small amount of blood taken from you with a needle. You may have a small amount of pain. The needle will be taken out and a bandage will be put on your skin. The blood will be sent to the lab for testing. ‚
What happens after the procedure?
- You may want to sit quietly for a few minutes before standing up. This will help keep you from feeling dizzy after the test.
- Ask your doctor when you will get the results.
What care is needed at home?
You may do your everyday activities when you get back home. ‚
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. This test will help your doctor understand if you have a problem with your uric acid levels. Together you can make a plan for more care. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Pain
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Feeling dizzy
- Infection
Where can I learn more?
American Association for Clinical Chemistry ‚
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/uric-acid/tab/test ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/medical/test_uric.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚