Why do I need a uric acid test?

You may need a uric acid blood test if you:

• Have symptoms of gout. Symptoms usually happen in one joint at a time. The big toe is most commonly affected, but your other toes, ankle, or knee may have symptoms, which include:
  • Intense pain
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Feeling warm
• Had or are having certain types of cancer treatments.

You may also need a uric acid urine test if you:

• Have symptoms of a kidney stone, including:
  • Sharp pain in your lower abdomen (belly), side, groin or back
  • Blood in your urine
  • Frequent urge to urinate (pee)
  • Not being able to urinate at all or only urinating a little bit
  • Pain when urinating
  • Cloudy or bad-smelling urine
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fever and chills
• Have gout and your health care provider wants to monitor your risk for developing kidney stones