Test ID: RURCU
Uric Acid, Random, Urine
Secondary ID
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Differentiation of acute uric acid nephropathy from other causes of acute renal failure
Patients who cannot collect a 24-hour specimen, typically small children, a uric acid creatinine ratio can be used to approximate 24-hour excretion
Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test
Uricase
Reporting Name
A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Container/Tube: Plastic, 6-mL tube (Supply T465)
Specimen Volume: 5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect a random urine specimen.
2. No preservative.
Additional Information: A timed 24-hour urine collection is usually the preferred specimen for measuring and interpreting this urinary analyte. Random collections normalized to urinary creatinine may be of clinical use in the following 2 scenarios:
1. In patients who cannot collect a 24-hour specimen, typically small children, a uric acid creatinine ratio can be used to approximate 24-hour excretion.
2. When acute renal failure secondary to uric acid is suspected, a uric acid to creatinine ratio (mg/mg) >1.0 is consistent with acute uric acid nephropathy, whereas values <0.75 are consistent with other causes of acute renal failure. (Kelton, J, Kelley, WN, Holmes, EW: A rapid method for the detection of acute uric acid nephropathy. Arch Intern Med 1978; 138:612).
Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | NA |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Urine | Refrigerated (preferred) | |
| Frozen | ||
Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Uric acid is the end-product of purine metabolism. It is freely filtered by the glomeruli and most is reabsorbed by the tubules. There is also active tubular secretion.
Increased levels of uric acid in the urine usually accompany increased plasma uric acid levels unless there is a decreased excretion of uric acid by the kidneys. Urine uric acid levels reflect the amount of dietary purines and also endogenous nucleic acid breakdown.
Acute uric acid nephropathy can cause acute renal failure due to uric acid precipitation within tubules. This is most commonly seen in patients with hematologic malignancies (eg, lymphoma, leukemia), often after acute lysis of cells by chemotherapy. Less commonly this may be seen with seizures, treatment of solid tumors, overproduction of uric acid in metabolic disorders such as Lesch-Nyhan syndrome or decreased uric acid reabsorption in the proximal nephron due to tubular disorder (Fanconi syndrome).
Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
No established reference values
Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Uric acid excretion can be either decreased or increased in response to a variety of pharmacologic agents.
Urine uric acid levels are elevated in states of uric acid overproduction such as in leukemia and polycythemia and after intake of food rich in nucleoproteins.
A uric acid to creatinine ratio (mg/mg) >1.0 is consistent with acute uric acid nephropathy, whereas values <0.75 are consistent with other causes of acute renal failure.(1)
A timed 24-hour collection is usually the preferred method for measuring and interpreting this urinary analyte. Random collections normalized to urinary creatinine may be of clinical use in 2 scenarios, however:
-When acute renal failure secondary to uric acid is suspected, a uric acid to creatinine ratio (mg/mg) >1.0 is consistent with acute uric acid nephropathy, whereas values <0.75 are consistent with other causes of acute renal failure.(1)
-In patients who cannot collect a 24-hour specimen, typically small children, a uric acid creatinine ratio can be used to approximate 24-hour excretion.
| Pediatric Reference Ranges of Uric Acid/Creatinine (mg/mg) | ||
| Age (year) | 5th Percentile | 95th Percentile |
| 0-0.5 | >1.189 | <2.378 |
| 0.5-1 | >1.040 | <2.229 |
| 1-2 | >0.743 | <2.080 |
| 2-3 | >0.698 | <1.932 |
| 3-5 | >0.594 | <1.635 |
| 5-7 | >0.446 | <1.189 |
| 7-10 | >0.386 | <0.832 |
| 10-14 | >0.297 | <0.654 |
| 14-17 | >0.297 | <0.594 |
Matos V, Van Melle G, Werner D et al: Urinary oxalate and urate to creatinine ratios in a healthy pediatric population. Am J Kidney Dis 1999;34:e1
Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
High levels of bilirubin and ascorbic acid may interfere with measurement.
Clinical Reference
Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Kelton J, Kelley WN Holmes, EW: A rapid method for the diagnosis of acute uric acid nephropathy. Arch Intern Med 1978;138(4):612-615
2. Newman DJ, Price CP: Renal function and nitrogen metabolites. In Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. Edited by NW Tietz. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 1999, pp 1245-1250
Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Uric acid is oxidized by the specific enzyme uricase to form allantoin and peroxide. Peroxide reacts in the presence of peroxidase and a color reagent to form a red color, the intensity of which is proportional to the uric acid concentration.(Package insert: Roche Uric Acid Plus, Roche Diagnostic Corp., Indianapolis IN)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed
Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Sunday; Continuously
Analytic Time
Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time
Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location
The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
84560
LOINC® Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| URCO2 | Uric Acid, Random, U | 3086-6 |
| CREA7 | Creatinine Concentration | 2161-8 |
| RATO6 | Uric Acid/Creatinine Ratio | 3089-0 |


