Final answer:
A physician may request a uric acid test primarily to assess for gout, where high uric acid levels form painful crystals in joints, and secondarily to monitor purine metabolism and kidney function. The correct answer is b) Assess for gout.
Step-by-step explanation:
A physician may order a uric acid test for several reasons, as uric acid plays a role in various medical conditions. One of the primary reasons to measure uric acid levels is to assess for gout, a form of arthritis characterized by severe pain, redness, and tenderness in joints caused by excess uric acid in the blood leading to the formation of urate crystals. The normal concentration of uric acid in the blood is 2.4 to 7.0 mg/dl, and levels above this range can precipitate these painful crystals in joints and soft tissues.
Besides gout, elevated uric acid levels are also associated with the formation of kidney stones and can indicate disorders of purine metabolism or kidney function. Therefore, testing uric acid levels can also be used to monitor purine metabolism and evaluate kidney function, although diabetes diagnosis is not directly related to uric acid levels.
Standard methods for estimating uric acid in the blood include the Phosphotungstic acid method, Fehling's method, and utilization of an autoanalyzer. Elevated uric acid levels may also suggest renal dysfunction, as the kidneys are responsible for excreting uric acid through urine. However, the correct option regarding why a physician would order a uric acid test is b) Assess for gout.