Uric acid

Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in the human body, primarily derived from the breakdown of nucleic acids from old cells, other purine compounds, and purines from food. Uric acid is mainly excreted from the body through the kidneys. Uric acid tests can be performed through blood or urine: Blood test: This is more common and involves drawing blood to measure blood uric acid levels. Urine test: Patients with hyperuricemia or gout also need to undergo urine uric acid testing. This helps assess whether the condition is due to decreased uric acid excretion or increased uric acid production, which is crucial for clinical subtyping of hyperuricemia and gout and guiding medication.