Test Overview
The uric acid urine test measures the amount
of
in a sample of urine collected over 24
hours. Uric acid is produced from the natural breakdown of your body's cells
and from the foods you eat.
Most of the uric acid is removed from
the body in urine. A small amount passes out of the body in stool. But if too
much uric acid is being produced, the level in the urine will increase. If the
kidneys are not able to remove it from the blood normally, the level of uric
acid in the urine will decrease.
High blood levels of uric acid in
the body can cause solid crystals to form within joints. This causes a painful
condition called
. If gout remains untreated, uric acid crystals
can build up in the joints and nearby tissues, forming hard lumpy deposits
called
. High levels of uric acid in the urine can cause
.