Both come from one serum sample at Alpha Laboratory. To book, call 8872524007.
What the Albumin test checks
So, what is albumin in a blood test? It is a protein made only by the liver. It keeps fluid inside the blood vessels and carries hormones, calcium, bilirubin and many medicines around the body.
Total protein is albumin plus globulins. Globulins include the antibodies of the immune system and various carrier proteins. Subtracting albumin from total protein gives the globulin figure on your report.
Albumin lasts about three weeks in the blood, so it changes slowly. It reflects the past few weeks, not yesterday.
Why your doctor may order it
Swelling of the feet, face or belly is a common reason, since low albumin lets fluid leak into tissues. Doctors also check it in long-standing liver disease, in kidney disease with frothy urine, after weeks of poor eating or long illness, and before major surgery.
It's included in every LFT test, and some doctors also order it with kidney tests.
How to prepare
No fasting is needed. Drink normally the day before, because being dehydrated can make both albumin and total protein read falsely high.
Posture and the tourniquet also matter. Standing for a long time before the draw, or a band left on the arm too long, can concentrate proteins slightly. We keep the tourniquet time short.
Sample type and report time
Blood from a vein in the arm into a serum tube (red or yellow cap). The report is usually ready the same day when the sample reaches us by about 11 am. Bedridden or elderly patients can use home sample collection.
Understanding your results
Commonly quoted adult ranges are about 3.5 to 5.0 g/dL for albumin and 6.0 to 8.3 g/dL for total protein, but the range printed on your report is the one that applies, because ranges vary by lab and method.
Low albumin can be associated with chronic liver disease, protein loss through the kidneys (nephrotic syndrome) or gut, poor nutrition, and severe infection or inflammation. High albumin is almost always from dehydration.
A high globulin with a low A/G ratio can be seen with long-standing infection, autoimmune conditions and, less commonly, blood disorders that make abnormal antibodies. Your doctor decides whether further tests are needed. If liver enzymes such as SGPT and SGOT are normal, the liver is less likely to be the cause of a low albumin.
FAQ
What does low albumin mean?
It means less albumin is being made or more is being lost. Your doctor looks at the liver, kidneys, diet and any recent illness to work out which.
Can I get an albumin test near me in Banur?
If you're searching for an albumin test near me in Banur, come to our M.C. Road lab from 7 am, or book collection at home.
Can eating more protein raise my albumin quickly?
Not quickly. Albumin changes over weeks, and diet is only one factor. Follow your doctor's advice on diet.
Is the total protein test the same as albumin?
No. Total protein includes albumin and globulins together; albumin is one part of it.
Book at Alpha Laboratory
Bring earlier reports if this albumin test is a follow-up, because the trend over weeks matters more than one value. Call 8872524007, WhatsApp us or use the contact page.