Description
- Check to see how much uric acid you have in your urine
- Results can be read after 120 seconds and checked against a colour chart
- 10 Individually sealed tests strips
This test checks to see how much uric acid you have in your urine. Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are found in some foods and drinks, such as liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas, beer, and wine. Purines are also a part of normal body substances, such as DNA.
Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys, where it passes out in urine. If your body produces too much uric acid or doesn't remove enough of it, you may get sick. A high level of uric acid in the body is called hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia may be observed in renal dysfunction, gout, leukaemia, polycythaemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypothyroidism or in some genetic diseases.
Decreased levels are present in patients with Wilsons disease, bronchogenic carcinoma, severe hepatocellular disease and Hodgkins disease.
Symptoms of gout
A sudden attack of severe pain in one or more joints, is the main symptom of gout is. Other symptoms can include the joint feeling hot and very tender, swelling in and around the affected joint, red shiny skin over the affected joint and peeling, itchy and flaky skin as the swelling goes down