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Is There A Blood Test For Gout?

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Posted on Wed, 25 Feb 2015
Question: Is there a blood test for gout?
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Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
There is no good blood test for gout.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Gout is an issue caused by uric acid accumulation in joints. This usually causes sudden pain in one or more joints. It is usually big toe joint. Redness and swelling of such joint are very characteristic.

Uric acid increased level can be detected in case of gout. But elevated level of uric acid does not confirm gout. Moreover low uric acid level does not rule it out. So nowadays, it is thought that measuring uric acid to detect gout is pointless.

The only test which can confirm gout is affected joint biopsy. In case of gout, there should be seen uric acid crystals in joint fluid.

So we do not have good blood test for gout.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5798 Questions

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Is There A Blood Test For Gout?

Brief Answer: There is no good blood test for gout. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. Gout is an issue caused by uric acid accumulation in joints. This usually causes sudden pain in one or more joints. It is usually big toe joint. Redness and swelling of such joint are very characteristic. Uric acid increased level can be detected in case of gout. But elevated level of uric acid does not confirm gout. Moreover low uric acid level does not rule it out. So nowadays, it is thought that measuring uric acid to detect gout is pointless. The only test which can confirm gout is affected joint biopsy. In case of gout, there should be seen uric acid crystals in joint fluid. So we do not have good blood test for gout. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.