All Tests, General Health, Women's Health, Men’s Health
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Uric Acid Test

Check your uric acid level with a simple blood test.

This blood test measures the amount of uric acid in your blood. Uric acid is a natural waste product your body makes when breaking down substances called purines, which are found in certain foods and drinks and your own cells. Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood, passes through your kidneys, and leaves your body in urine.

 

A high level of uric acid in the blood may be associated with gout—a type of arthritis—and could increase the risk of kidney stones. However, not everyone with a high uric acid level will develop these conditions. Some medications can also raise uric acid levels.

 

Checking uric acid level may be useful for those with gout symptoms (sudden, severe joint pain, swelling, and redness—often in the big toe), a family history of gout, those with chronic kidney disease, or other health conditions.

 

Note: This test does not diagnose specific health conditions. It is recommended to consult with a healthcare provider if you have any questions about your result.

 

$ 49.0
$49
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Uric Acid Test
$ 49.0
$49

Test Details

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Sample Type: Blood
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Collection Method: In person at a Labcorp location
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Age: 18-100
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Results: within 1 day from when your sample arrives at our lab
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HSA/FSA: Accepted
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Test must be taken by purchaser

Preparation: No special preparation is needed.

What's Tested
  • Uric Acid

    This test measures uric acid, a waste product formed from the breakdown of purines. High levels of purines may be found in red meats, seafood, poultry, alcohol and beverages with high-fructose corn syrup. Elevated uric acid levels may be linked to gout, kidney issues or other conditions. Diet, genetics and certain medications may affect an individual’s uric acid levels.

Why Consider This Test

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Assess Kidney Health

High uric acid levels may increase the risk of kidney stones or other kidney problems. This test is a simple and convenient way to help assess if uric acid is playing a role in your kidney health.

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Understand Gout Symptoms

Gout can cause sudden pain in your joints, most commonly the big toe, but also other joints such as the ankle, knee or fingers. You might also notice swelling, redness, warmth or stiffness in those areas.  This test may help you understand if high uric acid levels could contribute to your symptoms.

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Proactive Health Management

If you eat a lot of purine-rich foods (like red meat or shellfish), drink alcohol often, or have a family history of gout, checking your uric acid level may help you make more informed health choices. 

How It Works

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Purchase Your Test

Simply purchase this test online. A healthcare provider will review and approve your test requests; no healthcare provider visit is required.

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Provide Your Sample

Visit a Labcorp location near you for sample collection. Visits may be scheduled online.

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Get Your Results

View your easy-to-read results online in your Labcorp Patient™ account, including Linked Accounts. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail.

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Frequently Bought Together

FAQ

  • Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, leading to sudden episodes of severe pain, swelling and redness. These attacks, called flares, often affect the big toe, but can involve other joints. However, not everyone with high uric acid will develop gout.
     

    Risk factors for gout include being male, older age, certain dietary and lifestyle habits, obesity, kidney problems, and some medications. Other medications are used to treat gout, stopping pain during attacks, lowering uric acid levels and preventing future problems.

  • A high uric acid level in the blood, known as hyperuricemia, can lead to the formation of urate crystals, which may settle in joints and cause gout, a painful form of arthritis. An elevated level may also contribute to kidney stones or be a cause or consequence of kidney dysfunction. Common causes of high uric acid include obesity, genetics, certain medications, and a diet high in purines (found in red meat, shellfish, anchovies, sardines, and beer). If your uric acid is high, it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider to understand the underlying cause and explore lifestyle changes or medical interventions if needed.
     

    Not everyone with a high uric acid level will develop gout or kidney problems. Your healthcare provider can help interpret your results and decide if further testing or treatment is needed.

  • Foods rich in purines can increase uric acid levels. These include red meats, organ meats (like liver), shellfish, anchovies, sardines, and alcoholic beverages—especially beer. Sugary drinks and foods high in fructose can also contribute. A high-purine diet may trigger gout attacks or worsen kidney health. To reduce uric acid levels, consider a diet focused on low-purine foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy. Staying hydrated and limiting alcohol intake can also be helpful strategies.

  • Kidney stones are small, hard lumps that form in your kidneys from minerals and salts normally found in urine. They develop when certain substances such as uric acid or calcium build up in your urine, forming crystals that grow into stones over time. Symptoms may include sharp pain in your back or side, blood in your urine, nausea, vomiting or needing to urinate more often. Sometimes, small stones pass without causing symptoms, but larger stones can block the flow of urine and cause pain or infection.
     

    Risk factors include not drinking enough fluids, certain dietary habits, being overweight, having a family history of kidney stones, gout, or certain medical conditions.
     

    Keeping hydrated with drinking water and making changes to your diet can help prevent kidney stones, and treatment depends on the size and type of stone.
     

    If you have symptoms of kidney stones or are concerned that you might have a kidney stone, you should reach out to your provider for an evaluation.

  • Dietary and lifestyle changes that are recommended to help lower uric acid levels may include:
     

    • Limiting intake of purine-rich foods, like red meat, shellfish, and alcohol—especially beer
    • Eating more vegetables
    • Drinking plenty of water
    • Staying physically active and exercising
    • Maintaining a healthy weight
       

    In some cases, a provider may recommend medicine to help manage your uric acid levels.
     

    Always talk to your healthcare provider before making changes. They may recommend lifestyle changes or medications depending on your health history and test results.

  • Your testing will be performed in a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. Labcorp provides leading-edge medical laboratory tests and services through a national network of primary clinical laboratories and specialty testing laboratories. Our labs perform regular quality assurance testing to ensure our results are accurate.

  • Your results will be provided to you through our secure online portal to view or print. Results are also made available through a secure portal to the independent healthcare provider who placed your test order.  If you are accessing your results through your Labcorp Patient™ account, all users linked to the account will have access to all OnDemand test results. Results may also be provided to a local, state, and/or federal health authority; for example, many states require the testing laboratory and physician to report test results for certain communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, to local or state health departments.  

     

    If you have questions or comments regarding the Labcorp Notice of Privacy Practices, or have a complaint about our use or disclosure of your PHI or our privacy practices, please contact: privacyofficer@labcorp.com, call us at (877) 234-4722 (877-23-HIPAA) and ask for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or send a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215. You also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  • Visit the Labcorp OnDemand® website to browse and purchase laboratory tests and create your Labcorp Patient™ account to view your results. All Labcorp OnDemand testing requires an order from an authorized healthcare professional. For your convenience, Labcorp OnDemand has contracted with independent professional entities (collectively, Providers) to deliver healthcare provider services. Visit a Labcorp location for sample collection; or, if using an at-home collection kit, collect your sample yourself. We’ll let you know when your results are ready and can be accessed through your Labcorp Patient™ account.

  • To align with clinical best practices, we’ve set an age maximum of 100 for consumer-initiated testing. This limit was set to encourage individuals in more advanced age groups - who may have complex medical needs - to receive personalized guidance about testing from their healthcare providers.

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