Question 1

What is Uric Acid Nephrolithiasis?

Accepted Answer

Uric acid nephrolithiasis is a type of kidney stone disease where uric acid crystals form stones in the kidneys. It is caused by chronic dehydration, low urine pH, and elevated serum uric acid levels that lead to crystal precipitation. The Uric Acid Serum Test is the most important blood test for evaluating metabolic factors contributing to uric acid stone formation.

Question 2

What causes uric acid kidney stones?

Accepted Answer

Uric acid kidney stones are caused by a combination of chronic dehydration, persistently low urine pH (acidic urine), and elevated uric acid levels in the blood and urine. When urine becomes too acidic and concentrated, uric acid crystals cannot dissolve properly and instead precipitate out to form stones in the kidneys. Additional risk factors include high-protein diets, certain metabolic disorders, gout, chemotherapy, and conditions that cause rapid cell turnover.

Question 3

What is the best test for uric acid kidney stones?

Accepted Answer

The Uric Acid Serum Test is the most important blood test for evaluating uric acid nephrolithiasis because it measures the amount of uric acid circulating in your bloodstream. Elevated serum uric acid levels indicate an increased risk for stone formation and help your healthcare provider determine if medication to lower uric acid is needed. While imaging studies like CT scans or ultrasounds diagnose the stones themselves, the serum uric acid test identifies the underlying metabolic cause and guides treatment decisions including dietary changes, hydration strategies, and medications like allopurinol or febuxostat to prevent future stone formation.

Question 4

When should I get tested for uric acid kidney stones?

Accepted Answer

You should get tested if you experience severe flank or back pain, blood in your urine, frequent urination with burning or discomfort, nausea and vomiting, or if you have a history of kidney stones. Testing is especially important if you have gout, follow a high-protein diet, are undergoing chemotherapy, or have a family history of kidney stones. If you have already passed a uric acid stone, regular monitoring of serum uric acid levels helps prevent recurrence and allows your doctor to adjust treatment as needed.

Question 5

What are the symptoms of uric acid kidney stones?

Accepted Answer

Uric acid kidney stone symptoms include sudden and severe pain in the back, side, or lower abdomen that may radiate to the groin, blood in the urine making it pink or red, frequent and urgent need to urinate, burning sensation during urination, nausea and vomiting, fever and chills if infection develops, and cloudy or foul-smelling urine. Some people with small stones may have no symptoms at all until the stone begins to move through the urinary tract.

Question 6

Who is at risk for uric acid kidney stones?

Accepted Answer

People at higher risk for uric acid kidney stones include those with gout or elevated uric acid levels, individuals who are chronically dehydrated or live in hot climates, those following high-protein or high-purine diets, people with metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes, patients undergoing chemotherapy, individuals with inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhea that causes acidic urine, men over 40, and anyone with a family or personal history of kidney stones.

Question 7

What happens if uric acid kidney stones are left untreated?

Accepted Answer

Untreated uric acid kidney stones can lead to serious complications including complete urinary tract obstruction that damages kidney function, recurrent kidney infections that may spread to the bloodstream causing sepsis, chronic kidney disease from repeated stone episodes, permanent kidney damage or kidney failure requiring dialysis, and persistent severe pain that significantly impacts quality of life. Early detection and treatment through blood testing and appropriate management prevents these complications and reduces the risk of stone recurrence.

Question 8

Can uric acid kidney stones be diagnosed with a blood test?

Accepted Answer

Blood tests cannot directly diagnose kidney stones themselves, but the Uric Acid Serum Test is essential for identifying the metabolic cause of uric acid stone formation. This blood test measures uric acid levels in your bloodstream and helps determine your risk for developing stones or experiencing recurrence. Kidney stones are definitively diagnosed through imaging studies like CT scans, ultrasounds, or X-rays, but blood testing provides crucial information about underlying metabolic factors that need treatment to prevent future stones.

Question 9

How are uric acid kidney stones treated?

Accepted Answer

Treatment for uric acid kidney stones focuses on dissolving existing stones and preventing new ones through increased hydration to dilute urine, alkalinizing medications like potassium citrate to raise urine pH and dissolve uric acid crystals, uric acid-lowering medications such as allopurinol or febuxostat if blood levels are elevated, dietary modifications to reduce purine intake from red meat and seafood, and pain management for acute stone episodes. Small stones may pass on their own with increased fluid intake, while larger stones may require procedures like lithotripsy or ureteroscopy for removal.

Question 10

How can I prevent uric acid kidney stones?

Accepted Answer

Preventing uric acid kidney stones requires drinking at least 2 to 3 liters of water daily to keep urine dilute, limiting high-purine foods like red meat, organ meats, shellfish, and anchovies, reducing alcohol consumption especially beer, maintaining a healthy weight and managing metabolic syndrome or diabetes, taking prescribed medications like potassium citrate to alkalinize urine or allopurinol to lower uric acid levels, monitoring serum uric acid levels regularly through blood testing, and avoiding rapid weight loss or crash diets that can increase uric acid production.

Question 11

What can I do at home for uric acid kidney stones?

Accepted Answer

At home, you can support kidney stone management by drinking large amounts of water throughout the day to help flush stones and prevent new formation, adding fresh lemon juice to water to naturally increase citrate levels and alkalinize urine, reducing consumption of red meat, organ meats, and high-purine foods, eating more fruits and vegetables which help alkalinize urine, avoiding excessive salt which increases calcium in urine and may worsen stone formation, and tracking your urine color to ensure it stays pale yellow indicating adequate hydration. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes or if you experience severe pain.

Question 12

How’s this work?

Accepted Answer

Getting your blood test with us is easy, private & backed by the power of science.Long story short:
            
                In the test options, use the filters or search box to narrow your choices and find the test you want.
                If you need a hand navigating through options, text our super friendly support team at 754-799-7833, and we'll provide tailored suggestions to help you find the ideal test.
                Once your order is placed, we’ll create your doctor’s lab order remotely, without any need for you to make a trip to a doctor in person or to talk to the doctor. Expect to receive your doctor’s lab order right in your inbox. It will also be in your patient portal if you need to find it later. We’ll also include instructions regarding fasting and other requirements for your test. Your patient portal will be auto-created hassle-free during checkout.
                If this is your first time ordering, you'll be prompted to create a password for instant login access to your patient portal. It's a quick way to conveniently access your orders and results whenever you want.
                When you’re ready, visit one of our 4,000 locations. Just bring your ID – no printing or faxing of your lab order is needed, as your order and details will already be in the lab system.
                Note that most lab locations don’t accept walk-ins, so it’s best to book an appointment in advance. Don’t worry – we’ll provide detailed instructions along the way.
                You’ll get your results via email & SMS and dive into understanding your body better. Yup, that easy!
                If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

Question 13

How do I know which test to get?

Accepted Answer

In the test options, find the test you want.
            If you’re not sure which test to get, we can lend a hand in finding the right option.
            Just text or call us at 754-799-7833, email us at support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you. We've got your back and reply quickly.

Question 14

When will my lab results be available?

Accepted Answer

Most test results will be available within 1–3 business days. Once they're ready, we'll send an email and text message to let you know.
            After your blood draw, just hang tight and don't worry – we'll keep you updated and in the loop!
            If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you.

Question 15

Is it possible to make changes to my lab order if I made a mistake with the name, date of birth, or any other details?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! We totally understand that errors can happen. No worries, we're here to help you.
            Just reach out to us via text at 754-799-7833 or shoot us an email at
            support@privatemdlabs.com. Remember to include your order number and let us know the correct information you’d like to update.
            Our awesome team will jump right in and make sure everything is sorted out and accurate for you.
            There are no changes necessary if your address is wrong on the requisition though. We don’t mail anything out.
            Our lab requires an address to be listed to generate an order.

Question 16

Do you accept health insurance?

Accepted Answer

Only HSA & FSA is accepted.
            Our services are strictly self-pay and cannot be submitted to your health insurance provider except for Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Savings Accounts.
            This policy applies to all insurance companies, including federal health insurance programs like Medicare.
            If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com.

Question 17

Can I cancel my order?

Accepted Answer

Yes.
            We get it – sometimes your needs change.
            As long as your samples haven’t been collected yet, we’re happy to help you cancel your order.
            If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com.
            You can read more about our cancellation policy here.

Question 18

How can I find a lab location near me?

Accepted Answer

During the ordering process, you’ll be able to select a specific lab near you, with no strings attached!
            You can switch it up later easily and visit any of our authorized locations as long as it’s the same lab company you selected your test for (Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp).
            Before you proceed with your order, feel free to browse through all our lab locations here. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing that there's a lab nearby your home, office or your favorite gym.
            If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

Uric Acid Kidney Stones Blood Test

What is Uric Acid Nephrolithiasis?

What causes uric acid kidney stones?

What is the best test for uric acid kidney stones?

When should I get tested for uric acid kidney stones?

References

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