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Test Code URIC Uric Acid, Plasma

Important Note

Patients receiving rasburicase or similar medications should collect specimen in Lithium Heparin Tube, place on ICE and send immediately to Laboratory Service Center (LSC).

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Plasma

Preferred Specimen: Li-Heparin Mint Green Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Red Top, Gold Top

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
  • Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  • Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
  • Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25oC.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
  • Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours.

Reference Values

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

Uric Acid

All

Male

2.0 - 8.0 mg/dL

Uric Acid

All

Female

2.0 - 7.5 mg/dL

Critical Values

Analyte

Unit

Low

High

Age

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CPT Codes

84550

LOINC Codes

3084-1

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

 3 days

Refrigerated

 7 days

Frozen

6 months

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

 

Test Components

Uric Acid
 

Clinical Indications

Uric acid measurements are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous renal and metabolic disorders, including renal failure, gout, leukemia, psoriasis, starvation or other wasting conditions, and of patients receiving cytotoxic drugs.

Methodology

Enzymatic Colorimetric Assay Spectrophotometric

Additional Information

Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other
findings.

 

Uricase reacts specifically with uric acid. Other purine derivatives can inhibit the uric acid reaction. Alpha-methyldopa,
desferoxamine and calcium dobesilate (e.g. Dexium) cause interference at therapeutic concentrations (uric acid level
artificially low).

 

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: 1 hour

Routine Turnaround Time: 4 hours

Testing Schedule: 24/7

Synonyms/Keyword Search

UA2, UA, URIC

Last Review Date

8/19/2024

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