Blood Tests for Preeclampsia Topic Overview Back to top A woman
who may have signs of early or mild preeclampsia will have her
blood tested to detect additional signs of preeclampsia. A woman
who has preeclampsia may have specific blood tests to help
assess her health. - Uric acid. Increased uric acid in the blood
is often the earliest laboratory finding related to
preeclampsia. Uric acid is a waste product formed from the
breakdown of some protein-rich foods and the breakdown of cells
in the body. It is normally filtered from the blood by the
kidneys. But if the kidneys have been damaged by preeclampsia,
uric acid levels in the blood may rise. - Hematocrit. A high
hematocrit value can be a sign of preeclampsia. Hematocrit tells
the percentage of red blood cells in the blood—a hematocrit
value of 42 means that red blood cells make up 42% of the blood
volume. A normal hematocrit value for a nonpregnant woman is
between 36% and 44%. During pregnancy, the hematocrit value
normally decreases—the fluid in the bloo