Gouty Arthritis - Gout

How is the disease diagnosed?

The diagnosis of gout starts with a medical history and physical examination. Then the healthcare provider may do a joint aspiration, inserting a needle into the joint space to remove some of the joint fluid. The fluid is examined in the laboratory for the presence of uric acid crystals.

There also are blood tests that can be used to check for uric acid, but the results may be normal or even low in people with gout. Joint X-rays may be used to rule out any other abnormalities. Usually, if gout is in the acute stage, the joint X-rays will be normal.