Uric Acid in Urine

Test Overview

The uric acid urine test measures the amount of uric acid in a urine sample that is collected over 24 hours. Uric acid is produced from the breakdown of your body's cells and from the food you eat.

Most of the uric acid is removed from 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 and the level in the urine will drop.

High blood levels of uric acid in the body 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 in the urine can cause kidney stones.

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Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated December 21, 2005
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
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