Urate - plasma or serum
Last updated: Wednesday, 31, March, 2004
MBS Online Search Page: Click here for details
| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 5 mL blood in lithium heparin or plain tube. |
| Method | Spectrophotometry. |
| Reference Interval | Female: 0.15-0.40 mmol/L |
| Application | Diagnosis and monitoring of gout and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Monitoring of therapy in malignancies where there is a high rate of cell destruction and uric acid production. Assists in the diagnosis of SIADH. |
| Interpretation | The likelihood of gout is low if the serum urate concentration is repeatedly below 0.42 mmol/L. The risk of developing gout is three times greater if the serum urate concentration is consistently above 0.42 mmol/L. However, a raised serum urate level alone is insufficient to diagnose gout. Impaired renal function, pregnancy-induced hypertension, diuretics, fasting, hyperlactataemia, hyperketonaemia and low dose salicylates can all produce increased urate levels. Hypouricaemia is seen in patients with a low purine intake, in SIADH, with hypouricaemic drugs (eg, allopurinol) and in the rare condition of xanthinuria. |
| Reference | Liote F. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2003; 5(3): 227-234. |