Educational information only. At Precursor, blood testing is requested and reviewed by a clinician and considered alongside your history and other markers, not as a stand-alone diagnosis. Testing is performed in NATA-accredited laboratories to ISO 15189 standards.

What is uric acid?

Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines, substances found in your own cells and in certain foods and drinks. Most is filtered out by the kidneys. When production outpaces clearance, uric acid can build up in the blood, where at high enough levels it can crystallise in joints.

Why it matters

Uric acid is best known as the driver of gout, but it is also of interest as a metabolic marker. Raised levels are associated with insulin resistance, high blood pressure and features of metabolic syndrome, so it offers a window that extends beyond the joints into overall metabolic health.

What your results can mean

Higher than optimal

A high uric acid raises the risk of gout and can accompany metabolic strain. It is influenced by diet, alcohol, body weight, kidney function and some medications, several of which can be addressed with clinical guidance.

Within the healthy range

A uric acid in range makes gout unlikely from this cause and is one fewer marker pointing toward metabolic strain.

Reference ranges in Australia

Uric acid is reported in millimoles per litre (mmol/L), with reference ranges that differ between men and women and between laboratories. Read your result against the range on your own report and in the context of your symptoms and other markers.

Test your uric acid with Precursor

Uric acid gains meaning alongside your metabolic and kidney markers. At Precursor it is measured as part of Full Advanced Bloods, a single clinician-reviewed blood draw covering your metabolic, heart, hormonal, kidney, liver, thyroid and nutrient markers together, giving you and your clinician a broad baseline to understand and track.