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Uric acid How the Test is Performed:
Adult or child:
Blood is drawn from a vein ( venipuncture ), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a tourniquet (an elastic band) or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the tourniquet to distend (fill with blood). A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding .
Infant or young child:
The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.
How to Prepare:
Fast for 4 hours before the test.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How it Feels:
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing .
Risks:
Risks associated with venipuncture are slight: - excessive bleeding
- fainting or feeling lightheaded
- hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
- multiple punctures to locate veins
Why this Test is Performed:
This test is performed to detect elevated uric acid levels.
Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism (purines are building blocks of RNA and DNA). Most uric acid produced in the body is excreted by the kidneys. Increased levels of uric acid can cause gout .
Normal Values:
4.1 to 8.8 mg/dl
Note: mg/dl = milligrams per deciliter
Abnormal Results:
Greater-than-normal levels of uric acid (hyperuricemia) may indicate: Lower-than-normal levels of uric acid may indicate: Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
Cost:
The estimated cost is $44 as part of the Chem-20 test.
Special Considerations:
Drugs that can increase uric acid measurements include alcohol, ascorbic acid , aspirin, caffeine , Cisplatin, diazoxide, diuretics, epinephrine, ethambutol, levodopa, methyldopa, nicotinic acid , phenothiazines, and theophylline.
Drugs that can decrease uric acid measurements include allopurinol, high-dose aspirin (see salicylates - oral), azathioprine, clofibrate, corticosteroids, estrogens, glucose infusion, guaifenesin, mannitol, probenecid, and warfarin.
These spiked rods are uric acid crystals photographed under polarized light. Increased uric acid blood levels and formation of uric acid crystals in the joints are associated with gout.
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