Uric acid is produced from the breakdown of purines from ingested and cellular nucleic acids. It circulates in the blood as sodium urate and is excreted by the kidneys. Elevated levels of uric acid, called hyperuricemia, can be caused by increased production or decreased excretion. The objective is to determine uric acid levels to diagnose hyperuricemia. Serum separated quickly after collection is the best specimen, avoiding lipemic or high bilirubin samples. The uricase method enzymatically converts uric acid to allantoin and hydrogen peroxide to produce a violet dye for measurement. Elevated levels can indicate increased production from genetic disorders or tissue breakdown,

1. ESTIMATION OF URIC ACID.
Uric acid is the final breakdown product of purine metabolism. it
circulates in the plasma as sodium urate and is excreted by the kidney.
It is derived from nucleic acid that are ingested or come from
destruction of tissue cell . Nucleic acid are of two types PURINE and
PYRIMIDINE.
THE CATABOLISM OF THESE PURINE, ADENINE and guanine
produce uric acid.
After breakdown of nucleic acid the uric acid formed is transported to
the liver, blood then is filtered through the glomerular filtrate and
appear in the urine.
Elevated levels of uric acid concentration is called hyperuricemia, it
can be due to increase urate formation or decrease excretion.
Purine --- liver----xanthine ---uric acid--- blood urate --- kidney --excreted in urine.

2. OBJECTIVE.
• To know the uric acid level in the body.
• To diagnose a case of hyperuricemia.

3. SPECIMEN.
• Serum is the best, heparinized plasma can be used.
• lipemic and increased bilirubin sample should be avoided.
• Also drugs such as thiazide and salicyclate cause elevation
in uric acid.
• uric acid levels are effected by diet --- increased ingestion
of red meat which is rich in nucleic acid purine.
• Urate concentration is higher in male then in female.
• Serum should be separated quickly as uric acid is related to
cellular breakdown of RNA and DNA.
• RECENT MEAL INTAKE DO NOT AFFECT URIC ACID ,
SO PATIENT NEED NOT TO BE FASTING.

4. METHOD USED;
1- chemical method --- phototungstic acid method
2- enzymatic ---- uricase methods.
PRINCIPLE OF DETERMINATION OF URIC CID BY
URICASE METHOD.
Uric acid in the presence of uricase enzyme ois converted
to allantoin and H2O2. then 4 aminophenazone ( phenol
derivative )is converted to quinoid pigment in the
presence of H2O2 and enzyme peroxidase.
U A + O2 + 2H2O ____________________ Allantoin + CO2 + H2O2.
2H2O2 + DCHBS +PAP _______________ Quinimine + HCL + H2O.
Violet dye abs at 546 nm

5. PROCEDURE:
Pippete in cuvete
Blank
Standard
sample
Reagnt
1 ml
1ml
1 ml
------
Standard
-----
0.02 ml
Sample
-----
--------
M ix and incubate 10 min and measure abs at 546 nm
CALCULATION:
URIC ACID CONC = Abs sample
---------------x 6 == ____________ mg /dl
Abs of standard
0.02 ml

6. REFERENCE VALUE:
MALE
3.4 ---- 7 mg /dl
FEMALE 2.4 ----5 mg /dl
URINE . 250 – 750 mg /dl
INTERPRETATION OF RESULT:
Causes of elevated level of uric acid can be
due to

7. INREASED PRODUCTION.
PRIMARY CAUSE.
2 SECONDARY
-LEISH NYHAN SYNDROME.
Increase dietary inta
-GLUCOSE 6 PHOSPHATE DEFFICIENCY.
Intake
increase tissue cell
breakdown due to
LUKEMIA.
Cytotoxic drugs

8. DECREASE EXCRETION;
Renal insufficiency due to CRF , drugs.
HYPERURICEMIA can lead to disease condition
called GOUT.
G out is a clinical syndrome characterized by
hyperuricemia nad acute arthritis . acute gout tat
by deposition of sodium urate crystals which
cause inflammation
s/s pain and inflammation of joints.