--- title: Uric Acid Test type: biomarker url: "https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/uric-acid" also_known_as: - uric acid - urate category: Metabolic Health units: - mg/dL order_price_usd: 21.99 order_item: Uric Acid order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/uric-acid" reviewed_at: 2026-09-06 --- # Uric Acid > 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. Also known as: uric acid, urate. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Units | mg/dL | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 1–3 business days | | Price | $21.99 | | Labs | Quest or Labcorp | ## What does Uric Acid measure? A waste product from nucleic-acid breakdown. High levels can crystallize in joints and cause gout. ## What is the normal range for Uric Acid? | Population | Reference range | | --- | --- | | Male, age 18+ | 3.40 – 7.00 mg/dL | | Female, age 18+ | 2.40 – 6.00 mg/dL | Reference intervals differ slightly between labs; the range printed on your report is the one to interpret against. Ranges are usually set so 95% of healthy people fall inside them. ## 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 high Uric Acid 1. Diet: red meat, organ meats, shellfish, beer and spirits, high-fructose drinks 2. Reduced kidney excretion: chronic kidney disease, dehydration, genetics 3. Medications: thiazide and loop diuretics, low-dose aspirin, cyclosporine, niacin 4. Metabolic syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance 5. Rapid cell turnover: psoriasis, chemotherapy, fasting or crash dieting ### Symptoms that go with high Uric Acid - 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. ## What does a low Uric Acid mean? Can reflect low purine diet or certain rare metabolic conditions. ## How often should you retest? 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. ## How do you get tested for Uric Acid? | Order | Type | Price | Includes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Uric Acid](https://www.test-well.com/tests/uric-acid) | Single test | $21.99 | This marker | | [Gout Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/gout-panel) | Panel | $62.99 | 3 tests | | [Total Body Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/total-body-panel) | Panel | $499.99 | 49 tests | ## Quest vs Labcorp vs BioReference | Lab | Available | Price | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | Yes | $21.99 | Choose Quest at checkout; walk-in patient service centers in every state TestWell serves outside NY and NJ. | | Labcorp | Yes | $21.99 | Choose Labcorp at checkout; walk-in patient service centers in every state TestWell serves outside NY and NJ. | | BioReference (NY & NJ) | No | — | Not available in NY/NJ for this test. | ## Common questions about Uric Acid ### 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. ## Sources - [Mayo Clinic Labs](https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/overview/8440) - [American College of Rheumatology — 2020 Guideline for the Management of Gout](https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24180) ## Related biomarkers - [Glucose](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/glucose) - [Creatinine](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/creatinine) - [eGFR](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/egfr) - [BUN](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/bun) - [ALT](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/alt) - [AST](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/ast) - [Reference range lookup tool](https://www.test-well.com/tools/reference-range-lookup) - [Lab unit converter](https://www.test-well.com/tools/lab-unit-converter) - [All biomarkers](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers) --- Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-06. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/uric-acid Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.