Uric acid blood test in Chiswick

What the test measures

Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down purines, natural substances found in body cells and in foods such as red meat, offal, oily fish, shellfish and beer. Most uric acid dissolves in the blood and is removed by the kidneys. If too much is made, or too little is cleared, levels rise and needle-shaped crystals can form in and around joints, leading to gout, or in the kidneys, leading to stones.

The test measures how much uric acid is in your blood. It is useful for assessing gout risk and for monitoring treatment that lowers uric acid, and it is often read alongside kidney function.

Your price includes the sample taken at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a practitioner review of your result and a GP feedback report on request. No GP referral is needed.

Who it is for

• You have had sudden, severe pain, redness and swelling in a joint, often the big toe, which has now settled.
• You have been diagnosed with gout and want to check your level on treatment.
• You have had kidney stones.
• You drink alcohol regularly, particularly beer or spirits, or eat a diet high in red meat and sugary drinks.
• You train hard and have muscle aches or strain, and your practitioner wants a broader view.

Understanding your result

A raised uric acid can be linked with diet, alcohol, excess weight, reduced kidney function, some diuretics and low-dose aspirin, and inherited tendencies. Many people with a high level never develop gout, and during a gout attack the level can be normal, so the result is read with your symptoms. NICE guidance on gout recommends a treatment target for people taking urate-lowering therapy, and your practitioner can explain where your level sits. A low uric acid is uncommon and rarely significant.

Your report shows the laboratory reference range. A result outside it is a prompt for discussion with your practitioner, not a diagnosis.

Preparing for your test

No fasting is needed, but avoid alcohol and a large meal rich in red meat or seafood the day before, as both can raise uric acid temporarily. If you have recently had a gout flare, it is often more useful to test about two weeks after it settles. Tell us if you take diuretics, aspirin or urate-lowering medicines. If a joint is hot, swollen and very painful now, or you have a fever, seek medical advice promptly.

Uric acid is part of Kidney Health Extended, Omnia Essential Plus and Sports Performance. You can also compare every blood test and price in Chiswick.

Questions

How much is a uric acid blood test in Chiswick?

A uric acid test costs £39. That includes your sample at our clinic, laboratory analysis, a practitioner review and a GP feedback report on request.

Can this test diagnose gout?

Not on its own. Gout is diagnosed from symptoms and examination, and sometimes by examining fluid from the joint. Uric acid supports the assessment and guides treatment.

Why might my level be normal during a gout attack?

Uric acid can fall during a flare as crystals form in the joint. Testing a couple of weeks afterwards usually gives a truer picture.

What raises uric acid?

Alcohol, especially beer, purine-rich foods, sugary drinks, excess weight, reduced kidney function and some medicines can all raise it.