Uric Acid levels: what's normal, high and low
A waste product from nucleic-acid breakdown. High levels can crystallize in joints and cause gout.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
The short answer
Uric Acid is measured with a standard blood draw; no fasting is needed. A typical reference range is 3.40 – 7.00 mg/dL (male, age 18+; more bands below). At TestWell it's $21.99 all-in as Uric Acid, results in 1–3 business days, drawn at Quest or Labcorp. An out-of-range result is a prompt to look closer, not a diagnosis.
- Units
- mg/dL
- Sample
- Blood draw
- Fasting
- Not required
- Results
- 1–3 business days
- Price
- $21.99
- Labs
- Quest or Labcorp · BioReference in NY/NJ
Uric Acid Reference Range
These are the typical adult reference ranges used by major US labs. Your report will include the specific range used by the lab that processed your sample.
| Population | Range |
|---|---|
| Male, age 18+ | 3.40 – 7.00 mg/dL |
| Female, age 18+ | 2.40 – 6.00 mg/dL |
Reference ranges are educational. Always interpret your result with the specific range printed on your lab report and discuss anything outside the range with a clinician.
Have a result in hand? analyze it with your AI assistant using these reviewed ranges, or run it through our explainer. Tools: look up another marker's range · convert lab units
What your Uric Acid result may mean
Often reflects gout, kidney issues, certain medications, high purine intake, or alcohol use.
What a high Uric Acid means: causes, symptoms, next steps ↓Can reflect low purine diet or certain rare metabolic conditions.
Educational only — not a diagnosis. Many factors can influence a single result. Discuss anything that concerns you with a healthcare provider.
What does a high Uric Acid mean?
High uric acid (hyperuricemia, above about 7 mg/dL in men and 6 in women) comes from making more — purine-rich foods, alcohol (especially beer), fructose and sugary drinks, rapid cell turnover — or excreting less — kidney disease, diuretics, low-dose aspirin, dehydration and genetics. Most people with a high level never get gout, but the risk of gout and kidney stones rises with the level and duration.
Common causes of a high Uric Acid
- Diet: red meat, organ meats, shellfish, beer and spirits, high-fructose drinks
- Reduced kidney excretion: chronic kidney disease, dehydration, genetics
- Medications: thiazide and loop diuretics, low-dose aspirin, cyclosporine, niacin
- Metabolic syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance
- Rapid cell turnover: psoriasis, chemotherapy, fasting or crash dieting
Ordered from most to least common.
Symptoms that can go with it
- None in most people
- Sudden, severe joint pain and swelling (gout), often the big toe
- Kidney stones
What clinicians usually check next
- Kidney function and a metabolic panel
- Blood pressure, A1c, lipids — hyperuricemia clusters with metabolic syndrome
- Repeat off diuretics or after diet changes; a single value during a gout flare can be misleadingly normal or high
Do I need treatment for a high uric acid without gout?
Generally not; guidelines don't recommend medication for asymptomatic hyperuricemia. Diet, alcohol and weight changes lower it, and kidney function is monitored.
Educational only — not a diagnosis. A single result outside the range is a prompt to look closer with a clinician.
How do you get a Uric Acid test?
Order online, a licensed physician reviews the requisition, and you walk into a nearby lab for the draw. Uric Acid is available on its own or inside these panels — panels cost less per marker when you want the fuller picture.
| Option | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Uric Acid | This marker only | $21.99 |
| Gout Panel | 3 tests | $62.99 |
| Total Body Essentials Panel | 39 tests | $399.99 |
| Total Body Panel | 49 tests | $599.99 |
| Men's Superpowers Panel | 36 tests | $649.99 |
Quest vs. Labcorp for Uric Acid: which lab should you pick?
Both are CLIA-certified national labs and the result is clinically equivalent, so pick whichever location is closer. Your report will print that lab's own reference range, which can differ slightly from the table above.
| Lab | Available | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics | Yes | $21.99 |
| Labcorp | Yes | $21.99 |
| BioReference (NY & NJ) | Yes | $21.99 |
Need help choosing a location? Use the lab finder to see draw sites near your ZIP.
How often should you retest Uric Acid?
For gout treated with urate-lowering therapy, the American College of Rheumatology recommends treating to a serum urate below 6 mg/dL, checking levels every 2–5 weeks while the dose is being adjusted and about every 6 months once stable. Without gout, there's no routine retest interval.
General guidance from the sources listed below — your clinician may set a different schedule based on your history and results.
Frequently asked
What does a high Uric Acid mean?
High uric acid (hyperuricemia, above about 7 mg/dL in men and 6 in women) comes from making more — purine-rich foods, alcohol (especially beer), fructose and sugary drinks, rapid cell turnover — or excreting less — kidney disease, diuretics, low-dose aspirin, dehydration and genetics. Most people with a high level never get gout, but the risk of gout and kidney stones rises with the level and duration.
Do I need treatment for a high uric acid without gout?
Generally not; guidelines don't recommend medication for asymptomatic hyperuricemia. Diet, alcohol and weight changes lower it, and kidney function is monitored.
What does a low Uric Acid mean?
Can reflect low purine diet or certain rare metabolic conditions. A single result below the reference range is a prompt to look closer with a clinician — often a repeat test and related markers — not a diagnosis on its own.
Do I need a doctor's order to test my uric acid?
No. TestWell's licensed physician network reviews and approves your order — usually within minutes. You can place an order online without an in-person visit or a referral from your own doctor.
How long does it take to get Uric Acid results?
Most Uric Acid results are available in 1–3 business days after your specimen arrives at the lab. You'll get an email the moment your results are ready, with everything viewable in your TestWell portal.
How much does a Uric Acid test cost?
Our Uric Acid starts at $21.99. That's the all-in price — no copays, no insurance hoops, no surprise bills. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
Do I need to fast before my Uric Acid test?
Fasting is not required for the Uric Acid test. You can have your blood drawn any time of day.
Which lab will process my Uric Acid test?
Your test will be processed by Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, or BioReference depending on which is closest to you and which lab carries the test. All three are CLIA-certified and trusted by hospitals nationwide. You'll choose your lab during checkout from 4,000+ locations.
What can throw off a Uric Acid result?
Alcohol, keto and high-protein diets and ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can change a Uric Acid result without anything being wrong. Alcohol can raise Uric Acid — abstain 24 hours before. Keto and high-protein diets can raise Uric Acid — relevant if you have gout or a history of kidney stones. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can raise Uric Acid — note it when uric acid or gout is being assessed. Each is explained on our physician-reviewed "Before your test" pages; when one applies, remove it and retest.
Ready to test your uric acid?
Order in two minutes, get physician-approved, and visit a lab the same day. Starts at $21.99.