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🧪 Albumin (Serum Albumin)

Parameter	Details
Test Type	Blood test
Sample Required	Serum (venous blood draw)
Fasting Required?	❌ Not strictly required (8–12 hour fasting may be advised in full LFT)
Normal Range	3.5 – 5.5 g/dL (may vary slightly between labs)

🧠 What Is Albumin?

Albumin is the most abundant protein in your blood plasma, made by the liver. It helps maintain the osmotic pressure (fluid balance between blood and tissues) and acts as a carrier protein for hormones, vitamins, and drugs.

🔬 Why Is the Albumin Test Done?

The test helps assess:

Liver function – Low albumin suggests the liver is not synthesizing enough protein
Kidney function – If kidneys leak albumin into urine, blood levels fall
Nutritional status – Long-term malnutrition or poor protein intake can reduce albumin
Chronic illness – Inflammatory states like cancer or autoimmune disease

🏥 Organs Involved

Liver – Produces albumin
Kidneys – May leak albumin into urine if damaged
GI Tract – Malabsorption or protein loss (as in IBD, celiac)

📉 Low Albumin Levels May Indicate:

Cause	Possible Conditions
↓ Liver synthesis	Cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver failure
↑ Kidney loss	Nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis
↑ GI loss	Protein-losing enteropathy, chronic diarrhea, malabsorption
↓ Nutritional intake	Severe malnutrition, cachexia
↑ Catabolism or inflammation	Chronic illness, sepsis, cancers

📈 High Albumin Levels May Indicate:

Rare, usually due to dehydration, hemoconcentration
Can be falsely high if patient is overhydrated and test timing is incorrect

🔗 Recommended Related Tests

Test	Purpose
Liver Function Test (LFT)	Measures total protein, globulin, A/G ratio, enzymes
Urine Albumin (Microalbumin)	Detects early kidney damage in diabetes or hypertension
Prealbumin	Shorter-term nutritional marker
Total Protein	To calculate albumin:globulin (A/G) ratio
Serum Creatinine, BUN	Kidney health markers
CRP/ESR	To check inflammation (if albumin is low)

🔄 Albumin vs Globulin vs A/G Ratio

Protein	Made In	Function
Albumin	Liver	Maintains fluid balance, carries substances
Globulin	Liver/immune system	Involved in immunity & transport
A/G Ratio	Albumin ÷ Globulin	Low ratio may indicate chronic disease/inflammation

✅ Summary Table

Test Name	Serum Albumin
Purpose	Evaluate liver, kidney, nutritional and inflammatory status
Target Organs	Liver, Kidneys, GI tract
Reference Range	3.5–5.5 g/dL
Next Steps (if low)	LFT, Kidney tests, Total Protein, Urine Albumin, CRP

Albumin

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