Biochemistry

Preferred Sample Type

Serum Uric Acid (Urate)

Suitable Specimen Types

Serum

Serum Uric Acid (Urate)

Specimen Volume

1 mL blood

Sample Preparation

Centrifuge

Turnaround Time

1 day

Sample Processing In Laboratory

Usual

Sample Stability

5 days at 2 to 8°C

General Information

Uric acid (urate) is the final metabolite of endogenous and dietary purine nucleotide metabolism. It is the product of xanthine oxidase–catalyzed conversion of xanthine and hypoxanthine.

Hyperuricaemia may occur due to increased formation of uric acid due to primary causes such as inherited metabolic diseases or secondary causes such as increased intake, increased nucleic acid turnover (e.g. in leukemia, myeloma or chemotherapy) or tissue hypoxia. It may also occur due to decreased excretion due to AKI, CKD or preeclampsia. Asymptomatic hyperuricaemia is frequently detected via biochemical screening. Long-term follow up of these patients should be undertaken because many are at risk of kidney disease as a result of hyperuricaemia and hyperuricuria. Few of these patients ever develop the clinical symptoms of gout, a systemic disease caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints

Hypouricaemia is much less common than hyperuricaemia and may be due to severe hepatocellular disease, defective renal tubular absorption of uric acid (e.g. in Fanconi syndrome) or over-treatment with allopurinol, 6-mercaptopurine or azothioprine. Very rarely hypoyricaemia may be to an inherited metabolic defect, such as those which cause a xanthine oxidase deficiency.

Urinary uric acid measurement, together with serum uric acid, should be perfored in stone formers as hyperuricuria is a risk factor for the formation of both uric acid stones and calcium stones.

Patient Preparation

None

Reference Range

Males: 210-420 µmol/L

Females: 150-350 µmol/L

Specifications

  • EQA Status:

    NEQAS

  • EQAS Scheme: Yes

Link to Further Information

https://pinboard.in/u:duty_biochemist/t:Urate/

Creation Date

Monday, 08 August 2011

Modification Date

Thursday, 19 September 2019

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University Hospitals Birmingham medical laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2012 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/

  • Molecular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8759
  • Biochemistry is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8910
  • Haematology and Transfusion is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8784
  • Clinical Microbiology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8760
  • Cellular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 10141
  • Musculoskeletal laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 9897
  • Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospital pathology laboratories are a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.8217.

Tests not appearing on the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.

For further test information, please visit the test database: http://qehbpathology.uk/test-database

For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 371 5962