Uric acid test

If you've been diagnosed with gout, monitoring your uric acid levels can be a helpful way to protect your joints. This is because raised uric acid levels are often associated with worse gout symptoms.

Raised uric acid levels don't always lead to gout, and high levels have been associated with several other conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney and cardiovascular disease.

Uric acid is produced when you digest foods that contain compounds called purines (like red meat). If your uric acid levels are high, it can sometimes cause painful crystals to build up in your joints — this is called gout. Not everyone with raised uric acid levels will develop gout.