The accumulation of excess uric acid is due to either increased production, decreased renal excretion or a combination of both. Causes of increased uric acid can be multifactorial, these include hereditary causes that lead to defective purine metabolism, a diet high in purines, excess beer consumption, diuretics, malignancies, cytotoxics, tumour lysis and renal impairment.
Uric Acid
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Uric Acid
Uric acid is an end product of purine metabolism. Increased uric acid or hyperuricaemia may result from inherited enzyme deficiencies, increased turnover or reduced excretion of urate.
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Clinical Details
There are several causes of hyperuricaemia:
Drugs: cytotoxics, thiazides & loop diuretics, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, low dose aspirin
Increased cell turnover: Metastatic cancer, multiple myeloma, leukaemia, lymphoma, psoriasis, haemolysis, rhabdomyolysis
Reduced excretion: Chronic renal disease, acidosis, pre-eclampsia
Other: hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, excess alcohol intake
When the metabolism and excretion of uric acid is defective, body fluids may become saturated with urate and crystals are deposited, usually in joint fluid, leading to the symptoms of gout. The most accurate way to diagnose gout is by joint aspiration to identify uric acid crystals in the synovial fluid. Primary or classic gout, is characterised by acute onset of severe pain with peak intensity within the first twelve hours, usually at the base of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. 10% of cases are polyarticular.
A flare can last for up to ten days. Crystals can also precipitate in the renal parenchyma giving rise to gouty nephropathy and renal stones. It is important to note that in gout serum urate levels may be normal during an acute attack and thus the optimal time for measurement is approximately two weeks after a flare resolves.
Please contact us for more information on the reference ranges used at Enfer Medical.
Case Study
Delivering True Innovation
At Enfer Medical, we have integrated a cutting-edge and fully automated WASPLab® (Walk Away Specimen Processor) that has significantly enhanced our testing capabilities to ensure the highest of quality when processing patient samples.
Our Services
Service
Health & Wellness
General health and wellness testing can include a variety of tests, depending on the needs of the individual or recommendations of
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Service
Sexual Health
Regular STI screening facilitates early treatment and reduces the long-term consequences of infection.
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Service
Respiratory Health
Rapid early pathogen identification has important treatment and infection control implications. See our range of tests here.
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Service
Reproductive & Female Health
Hormonal analysis is hugely beneficial to identifying problems that can arise during the reproductive years.
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Sample Type &
Volume Required
5mL venous serum or plasma
Enfer Medical
Tests/Assays
Enfer Medical offers Enzymatic colorimetric technology for the quantitative assay for Uric Acid. This test is CE-IVD certified.
Patient
Request Form
For clients using the Enfer Medical Client Portal, the Enfer Medical Patient Request Form (PRF) will be generated when you have completed your “Test Request” within the portal linked below.
Please note that samples suspected of containing high risk pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis should be clearly identified on the form and packed separately from other samples.
24 hours
Results are available next working day.
7 Days a Week
This assay is available seven days a week.
Packaging
The packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory are required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. HSE guidance can be reviewed HERE.
There are specific packaging instructions and labelling requirements requiring triple packaging including:
- Primary leak-proof container – tube or vial containing the sample.
- Secondary watertight container, with absorbent material, intended to protect the primary container.
- Outer container protects the secondary container.
- Patient Request forms must be placed between the secondary container and the outer shipping container.
Further information on the packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory is contained within the Enfer Medical Laboratory User Manual which clients are provided with.
Storage & Stability
Specimens must be tested within 3 days of collection and stored at 2-8°C.
Transporting
Samples
Samples
In addition to the packaging of samples, the transport/delivery of clinical samples to the laboratory is required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. Enfer Medical provides a fully compliant logistics service, aligned with clients’ testing requirements.
Prompt transport of specimens:
To ensure prompt testing of samples and release of results within the published test turnaround times, samples should arrive to the laboratory by 18:00. Test turnaround time is measured from receipt of the sample at the laboratory until the time the authorised results are reported to users.
Acceptance/Rejection
of Samples
of Samples
In rare cases specimens may not be suitable for testing on arrival to the laboratory. In that case the sample will be rejected at the receipt stage and the service user will be notified immediately and an explanation as to why the sample could not be processed will be provided. Reasons why samples cannot be processed include but are not limited to:
- Samples received beyond the stability limits and/or not at the correct temperature indicated for each test.
- Incorrect sample type received.
- Leaking samples, sample not received or sample insufficient for analysis as stated below within sample requirements.
- Non-compliant samples or request forms i.e. those missing sample date information, missing sample test request and/or missing sample site/type information.
- Samples received without the necessary patient identifiers.
Clients will be provided with guidance on Sample Receipt Anomalies.
Our Services
Service
Health & Wellness
General health and wellness testing can include a variety of tests, depending on the needs of the individual or recommendations of
Find Out More
Service
Sexual Health
Regular STI screening facilitates early treatment and reduces the long-term consequences of infection.
Find Out More
Service
Respiratory Health
Rapid early pathogen identification has important treatment and infection control implications. See our range of tests here.
Find Out More
Service
Reproductive & Female Health
Hormonal analysis is hugely beneficial to identifying problems that can arise during the reproductive years.
Find Out More
Result Values:
Quantitative results for Uric Acid are reported in numeric value in µmol/L. Please contact us for more information on the reference ranges used at Enfer Medical.
Accessing
Your Results
Following receipt at the Laboratory, results should be available on the next working day and will be reported to the referring clinician via the Enfer Medical Client Portal or in a format agreed with clients.
Established clients can login to the portal using the link above.