How to prepare
No specific fasting is required. However, alcohol and high-purine foods (organ meats, shellfish, red meat) can temporarily raise uric acid, so avoiding these for 24 hours before testing gives a more representative result. Maintain normal fluid intake. If you are on urate-lowering medication, continue taking it as normal unless your practitioner advises otherwise.
After the test
Share your result with your health professional. If levels are elevated and you have had gout attacks, your practitioner can advise on urate-lowering treatment, dietary changes, and monitoring. If you are already on allopurinol or febuxostat, the result will guide whether your dose needs adjustment.
Your test results will be available in your private dashboard. If there are any urgent issues, we'll let you know so you can follow up with your health professional.
Understanding results
Uric acid is measured in millimoles per litre (mmol/L) or micromoles per litre (µmol/L). Your result report includes the reference range that applies to your sample, and your practitioner can explain what your number means in your context.
Elevated uric acid (hyperuricaemia): Associated with gout, kidney stones, metabolic syndrome, kidney disease, and high purine intake or cell turnover. Not everyone with high urate develops gout. Many people have elevated levels without symptoms.
Low uric acid: Less common; can occur with certain rare conditions or medications.
Urate can sit within the normal range during an acute gout flare, so a normal result does not rule gout out. Examining fluid taken from the affected joint, rather than a blood urate level, is the test used to confirm gout during an active attack.
If you are being treated for gout, a target urate level helps guide medication dosing. Your practitioner can explain the treatment target appropriate for you.
