Short answer: The uric acid test measures urate, a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines, which come from its own cells and from food and drinks such as red meat, seafood, alcohol and sugary drinks. The kidneys remove most of it in urine. The test is used mainly in gout, kidney stones and some treatments.
At a glance
| Measures | Urate in the blood, a waste product of purines |
|---|---|
| Units | mg/dL (US) or µmol/L (Europe); 1 mg/dL ≈ 59.5 µmol/L |
| LOINC | 3084-1 |
| Ordered for | Gout, kidney stones, some treatments, routine panels |
| Moves with | Diet, alcohol, dehydration, some medicines, kidney function |
| Keep | Value, unit, range and date, next to symptoms |
What the test measures
When uric acid builds up, it can form crystals in joints (gout) or in the kidneys (stones). However, many people with a high uric acid never develop gout, and during a gout attack the level can be normal, so the result is read with symptoms and history.
Uric acid rises with some medicines (for example some diuretics), kidney problems, dehydration and fast cell turnover (for example during some cancer treatments).
When it is ordered
Common reasons, which your doctor adapts to you:
- when a doctor investigates joint pain or swelling that may be gout;
- to follow urate-lowering treatment;
- in kidney stones, or during some cancer treatments.
How the result is written on the report
| Result on the report | LOINC code | Usual unit | Also seen as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urate (uric acid), serum or plasma | 3084-1 | mg/dL | µmol/L (×59.48) |
| Creatinine (often on the same report) | 2160-0 | mg/dL | µmol/L |
µmol/L = mg/dL × 59.48 (about 60): 6.0 mg/dL ≈ 357 µmol/L.
Reading your report
People on urate-lowering treatment often have a target set by their doctor, and the result is followed over months. Alcohol, a large meal rich in purines and fasting can shift a single result.
Keeping the results in your record
Scan or photograph the report in Anpheros Daily: each value is read with its unit and the laboratory's reference range, you check it, and it is stored with its LOINC code as an HL7 FHIR Observation, a format used by many hospitals and national health systems. Results from different laboratories line up on one chart over time, and the lab unit converter helps when two reports use different units. Our guide on how to read lab results explains reference ranges and flags in general; the lab results guide for a new doctor shows how to share them.
What this page does not do
It explains what the test is and how the result is written. It does not interpret your result, diagnose or recommend treatment: the meaning of a value depends on your history, your other results and how the sample was taken, and that is your doctor's job.
Related pages
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Does a high uric acid mean gout?
Not by itself. Many people with high uric acid never get gout, and levels can be normal during an attack. Your doctor reads it with your symptoms.
How do I convert uric acid from mg/dL to µmol/L?
Multiply by 59.48. For example, 7.0 mg/dL is about 416 µmol/L.
Can diet change my uric acid result?
Yes. Alcohol, red meat, seafood and sugary drinks can raise it; follow your doctor's advice before the test.
Why is uric acid tested with creatinine?
Because the kidneys remove uric acid, and kidney function changes how it builds up.
Try it in Anpheros Daily
Photograph your lab report and Anpheros Daily lines up each value with its reference range, so you can compare reports from different laboratories.
How it works in the app →
Anpheros builds a medical record that the patient controls and can share with any clinic, on an HL7 FHIR R4 platform, based in the EU. These guides help you understand and organise your health; they do not replace your doctor.
About Anpheros →
AnpherosThe more you log, the clearer your record
Your health history in one place, under your control.
Free · Works in your browser · No card
