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Uric acid shows how much of this waste product is in your blood. A high level can point to a condition affecting the joints or the kidneys. A low level is uncommon and usually causes no symptoms.[1]
On this page you can read what uric acid is, what the guidelines say about a level that is too low or too high, what affects your level and which values are best to look at alongside it.
Also known as: serum urate, UA, uric acid in serum. At the lab: HSR.
Uric acid is a normal waste product your body makes when it breaks down substances called purines. Purines are released from your cells when they die. They are also found in some foods and drinks. Most of the time, uric acid dissolves in your blood, your kidneys filter it out and it leaves your body in your urine.[1]
If your body makes too much uric acid or your kidneys remove too little of it, it can build up in your blood. Needle-shaped crystals can then form in and around your joints, which can cause painful swelling. A high level can also point to a kidney condition. Even so, many people with a high level have no health complaints.[1]
This test measures the amount of uric acid in a blood sample. For this, a small amount of blood is taken from a vein in your arm. Many medicines, including aspirin, can affect the result.[1]
A doctor can request this test if you have symptoms in a joint. These usually affect one joint at a time, most often the big toe, but sometimes other toes, the ankles or the knees. Think of severe pain, swelling, redness or warmth around the joint, and not being able to move it as well. To identify a joint condition, the test is usually done together with an examination of the fluid in the joint.[1]
Complaints that may point to a kidney condition can also be a reason for the test. For example, sharp pain in your lower abdomen, side, groin or back, blood in your urine, needing to urinate often or pain when urinating.[1]
With some intensive treatments, a lot of cells die off quickly. They then release a lot of purines into your blood, and a high uric acid level can then cause serious problems. Regular testing helps to spot a rise early.[1]
If you have a combination of metabolic traits that raises the chance of a high uric acid level, or if you take certain medicines such as water tablets, your doctor may also order this test.[1]
Labplusarts, the laboratory BioProfile works with, gives a reference value for uric acid (HSR) of 0.2 to 0.42 umol/l. The lab calls a value between those limits normal.[2]
| Value | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 0.2 to 0.42 umol/l[2] | Normal according to the lab | The lab does not name a separate group |
Source: Labplusarts, the laboratory BioProfile works with. Reference value for uric acid in blood (HSR).[2]
A low uric acid level in your blood is uncommon and usually causes no complaints. Conditions linked to a low level are usually diagnosed with other tests.[1]
A high level in your blood can point to a body that makes too much uric acid or to kidneys that do not remove it from your blood properly. According to MedlinePlus, a high level can be linked to a joint or kidney condition, certain disorders of the blood and bone marrow, a problem with alcohol or, during pregnancy, a condition that can cause dangerously high blood pressure. A high level does not always point to something that needs care. Your doctor may order more tests to find the cause.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Your level can come out higher if you eat or drink a lot of food that is high in purines. Think of red meat and organ meats such as liver and kidney, some fish and seafood such as shellfish, anchovies, sardines, trout and tuna, all types of alcohol, and glucose-fructose syrup in soft drinks and sweets.[1]
Niacin (vitamin B-3) can also affect your result. Tell your doctor which medicines you take, but do not stop any medicine without talking to your doctor first.[1]
Your level can rise if your body makes too much uric acid or if your kidneys do not remove it from your blood properly. With some treatments and certain blood disorders, a lot of cells die off quickly, which releases more purines.[1]
Uric acid is included in BioProfile 77, 87, 121 and 150.[3]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 10 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 10 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert has yet to check this page; after that check, the expert's name and the date of the check will appear at the top. This page offers explanation, not a diagnosis. Discuss a value outside the range with your GP.
