Albumin blood (serum) test

A blood sample is needed.

The health care provider may tell you to temporarily stop taking certain medicines that can affect the test. Drugs that can increase albumin levels include: Anabolic steroids Androgens Growth hormone Insulin Do not stop taking any of your medicines without talking to your provider first.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

Albumin helps move many small molecules through the blood, including bilirubin , calcium, progesterone, and some medicines. It plays an important role in keeping the fluid in the blood from leaking into the tissues. This test can help determine if you have liver disease or kidney disease, or if your body is not…

The normal range is 3.4 to 5.4 g/dL (34 to 54 g/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

Lower-than-normal level of serum albumin may be a sign of: Kidney diseases Liver disease (for example, hepatitis or cirrhosis that may cause ascites [fluid buildup in the abdomen]) Decreased blood albumin may occur when your body does not get or absorb enough nutrients, such as with: After weight-loss surgery Celiac…

There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include: Excessive…

If you are receiving large amounts of intravenous fluids, the results of this test may be inaccurate. Albumin will be decreased during pregnancy.

McPherson RA. Specific proteins. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods . 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 20.