Albumin is a blood test that measures albumin levels in the blood. Normal range: Adult albumin is typically 35-50 g/L. As the most abundant blood protein, it maintains fluid inside blood vessels and carries hormones, drugs and calcium, which is why a low albumin both causes swelling and skews the calcium result.. It is commonly used to helps assess liver function, nutritional status, and inflammatory conditions..
What is Albumin?
The main protein in blood plasma, produced by the liver.
Why is it measured?
Helps assess liver function, nutritional status, and inflammatory conditions.
Normal Reference Range
Adult albumin is typically 35-50 g/L. As the most abundant blood protein, it maintains fluid inside blood vessels and carries hormones, drugs and calcium, which is why a low albumin both causes swelling and skews the calcium result.
Note: Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
What Causes High ALBUMIN?
High albumin almost always reflects dehydration (a concentration effect) rather than overproduction, and corrects with rehydration. It can also appear with prolonged tourniquet time during the blood draw. It is rarely a primary concern.
What Causes Low ALBUMIN?
Low albumin is common and has several mechanisms: reduced production in liver disease, loss through the kidneys (nephrotic syndrome) or gut (protein-losing enteropathy), dilution from fluid overload, poor nutrition, and — very commonly — inflammation and acute illness, because albumin falls as a "negative acute-phase" protein. Marked low albumin causes oedema and is a general marker of poor health or chronic disease.
How Often Should ALBUMIN Be Tested?
Albumin is part of routine liver function tests and general biochemistry panels, so it is measured frequently. It is interpreted alongside total protein and used to correct calcium. It is monitored in chronic liver, kidney and inflammatory conditions and in nutritional assessment.
Related Blood Markers
Albumin is read with total protein (the two give the globulin fraction and A:G ratio), the rest of the liver panel (ALT, ALP, bilirubin), and calcium, which must be corrected for the albumin level.
Key Facts
- •Category: Vital Organ Functions
- •Unit of Measurement: g/L
- •Test Code: ALBUMIN
Related Vital Organ Functions Markers
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)
An enzyme found primarily in the liver and bones.
Learn moreALT (Alanine Transaminase)
ALT (Alanine Transaminase, also written ALAT or SGPT) is an enzyme concentrated in the liver. When liver cells are damaged, ALT leaks into the bloodstream, so it is the single most liver-specific enzyme on a standard Liver Function Test (LFT). It is often interpreted alongside AST, GGT and ALP to build a picture of liver health.
Learn moreAST (Aspartate Transaminase)
AST (Aspartate Transaminase, also written ASAT or SGOT) is an enzyme found in the liver, heart, skeletal muscle and red blood cells. Because AST exists in multiple tissues, it is less liver-specific than ALT. Pathology labs report AST as part of the standard Liver Function Test (LFT) panel.
Learn moreBilirubin
A yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells.
Learn moreBUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
A waste product filtered by the kidneys.
Learn moreCreatinine
A waste product produced by muscles and filtered by the kidneys.
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