What sample is required?
The determination is made from a venous blood sample or from a 24-hour urine sample of the sample for analysis.
Is some kind of prior preparation necessary?
No special preparation is needed for this test, although some recommend fasting prior to obtaining the sample for analysis.
Why do the analysis?
To detect high levels of uric acid in the blood, as this could be a sign of a disorder known as gout, or to monitor uric acid levels when undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy; to detect elevated levels of uric acid in urine in the evaluation of renal lithiasis (stone formation, calculi) and as monitoring of the treatment of gout in individuals with a propensity to form kidney stones.
When to do the analysis?
When joint pain or other symptoms suggestive of gout occur; when someone is going to undergo an anti-cancer treatment, be it chemotherapy or radiotherapy; when kidney stones are formed recurrently; when you have been diagnosed with gout or have a certain risk of kidney stone formation.