Uric Acid Test
A uric acid test measures uric acid, a byproduct the body forms as it breaks down natural compounds called purines. Clinicians associate it with gout as well as with broader metabolic health, and they read it as one marker among several.
About this test
Uric acid is a waste product created when the body breaks down purines — substances found naturally in the body's own cells and in many foods. Once formed, uric acid travels in the blood and is largely removed by the kidneys, and this steady cycle of production and removal keeps the amount circulating in balance.
The uric acid test is done with a simple blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist collects a sample from a vein, usually in the arm, and the sample goes to the laboratory.
Who might consider this test?
- Often looking into it in connection with gout
- A condition clinicians associate with uric acid
- As part of a broader look at their metabolic health
Test details
| Quest code | 905 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Spectrophotometry |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Additional details
What this test looks at
Uric acid reflects the balance between how much the body produces as it breaks down purines and how much the kidneys clear. Because it sits at the meeting point of several processes, a uric acid test gives a clinician information relevant to diet, cell turnover, and kidney function at the same time. That is part of why it appears in metabolic panels and why it is read in context rather than on its own.
It also helps to remember what uric acid is not: a single measurement is a piece of a larger picture rather than an answer by itself. That is exactly why a clinician interprets it alongside symptoms, history, and other markers.
How it's often used alongside other tests
Uric acid is sometimes considered together with blood sugar markers such as glucose and hemoglobin A1c when a clinician is building a broader metabolic picture. Because it is closely tied to kidney function, it may also be weighed against markers of how the kidneys are working. Read together, these markers offer more context than any single one can on its own.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does a uric acid test measure?
It measures uric acid, a byproduct the body forms as it breaks down compounds called purines. Clinicians associate it with gout and broader metabolic health, and read it alongside your history and other markers.
Why is uric acid linked to gout?
Gout is a condition in which uric acid can form crystals in joints, so clinicians often measure the marker in that context. The result is read alongside symptoms and history rather than as an answer by itself.
Do I need to fast before a uric acid test?
Some uric acid tests call for a period of fasting. It is worth checking the instructions for the specific test you order and following any guidance your ordering clinician provides.
How is the sample collected?
Through a routine blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist takes a small sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory.
Does a uric acid test diagnose gout?
No single test diagnoses a condition. A uric acid result is one piece of information a clinician considers along with your symptoms, history, and exam to help evaluate what may be going on.
How much is a Uric Acid test?
$25, paid once at checkout. The price includes the physician's order this test requires and sample collection at a Quest patient service center.