Uric Acid in Urine
How It Feels
There is no pain while collecting a
24-hour urine sample.
There is no chance for problems while collecting
a 24-hour urine sample.
The uric acid urine test measures the
uric acid in a sample of urine collected over 24
The normal values listed here—called a reference range—are just a guide. These ranges vary from lab to lab, and your lab may have a different range for what's normal. Your lab report should contain the range your lab uses. Also, your doctor will evaluate your results based on your health and other factors. This means that a value that falls outside the normal values listed here may still be normal for you or your lab.
Results are usually available in 1 to 2 days.
Women typically have slightly lower uric acid
levels than men.
Many conditions can change uric acid
levels. Your doctor will talk with you about any abnormal results that may be
related to your symptoms and past health.
What Affects the Test
Failing to collect exactly 24 hours of urine during a
uric acid urine test can cause inaccurate test results.
High uric acid levels may be caused
- Individual differences in the way your body
produces or gets rid of uric acid.
- Conditions, such as:
- Kidney disease or kidney
- The increased breakdown of body cells that occurs with some
types of cancer (including
multiple myeloma) or cancer treatments,
sickle cell anemia, or
- Other disorders, such as
preeclampsia, liver disease (cirrhosis),
hypothyroidism, and low blood levels of
- A rare inherited gene disorder called Lesch-Nyhan
- Medicines, such as some
diuretics, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), lower doses of
aspirin (75 to 80 mg aspirin daily), niacin, and some medicines used to treat
leukemia, lymphoma, or
- Contrast material used for some
- Eating foods that are very high in
purines, such as organ meats (liver, brains), red
meats (beef, lamb), game meat (deer, elk), and some seafood (sardines, herring,
- Drinking a lot of alcohol, especially beer.
Low uric acid levels may be caused
- Gout, when uric acid production is normal but
uric acid removal by the kidneys is reduced.
- Kidney damage or
disease that prevents the kidneys from filtering uric acid out of the blood
into the urine.
- Folic acid deficiency or lead
- Not eating enough protein.
- Some medicines, such as allopurinol,
insulin, some diuretics, and high levels of aspirin.
alcohol during the collection period.