BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAlbumin blood (serum) testAlbumin is a protein made by the liver. A serum albumin test measures the amount of this protein in the clear liquid portion of the blood.Albumin can also be measured in the urine.UrineThis test looks for a protein called albumin in a urine sample. Albumin can also be measured using a blood test or another urine test, called the uri...Read Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. Blood sampleVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test 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 Growth hormoneThe growth hormone test measures the amount of growth hormone in the blood. The pituitary gland makes growth hormone, which causes a child to grow. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article InsulinDo not stop taking any of your medicines without talking to your provider first. How the Test will Feel 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. Why the Test is Performed 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.BilirubinThe bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This test can help determine if you have liver disease or kidney disease, or if your body is not absorbing enough protein.Liver diseaseThe term "liver disease" applies to many conditions that stop the liver from working or prevent it from functioning well. Abdominal pain or swelling...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ProteinProteins are the building blocks of life. Every cell in the human body contains protein. The basic structure of protein is a chain of amino acids. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results 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. What Abnormal Results Mean 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])HepatitisHepatitis is swelling and inflammation of the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased blood albumin may occur when your body does not get or absorb enough nutrients, such as with:After weight-loss surgery Celiac disease (damage of the lining of the small intestine due to eating gluten) Celiac diseaseCeliac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten. This ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Crohn disease (inflammation of the digestive tract) Crohn diseaseCrohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low-protein diets Whipple disease (condition that prevents the small intestine from allowing nutrients to pass into the rest of the body)Whipple diseaseWhipple disease is a rare condition that mainly affects the small intestine. This prevents the small intestine from allowing nutrients to pass into ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Increased blood albumin may be due to:Dehydration High protein diet Having a tourniquet on for a long time when giving a blood sampleDrinking too much water (water intoxication) may also cause abnormal albumin results.Other conditions for which the test may be performed:Burns (widespread) Wilson disease (condition in which there is too much copper in the body)Wilson diseaseWilson disease is an inherited disorder in which there is too much copper in the body's tissues. The excess copper damages the liver and nervous sys...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks 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 bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood collecting under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Considerations If you are receiving large amounts of intravenous fluids, the results of this test may be inaccurate.Albumin will be decreased during pregnancy.Open ReferencesReferencesMcPherson 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.AllVideoImagesTogBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationA Closer Look Diabetes - type 2 - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 1 - InDepth(In-Depth)Self Care Diabetes tests and checkups Tests for Albumin blood (serum) test Albumin blood (serum) testUrine protein dipstick testMicroalbuminuria testCalcium blood testAutoimmune liver disease panelCreatinine urine testUrine protein electrophoresis testPulmonary ventilation/perfusion scanProtein electrophoresis - serumCalcium - ionizedRelated Information Liver disease(Condition)Protein in diet(Nutrition)Bilirubin blood test(Medical Test)Ascites(Condition)Burns(Injury)Glomerulonephritis(Condition)Hepatitis(Condition)Cirrhosis(Condition)Necrosis(Special Topic)Malabsorption(Condition)Hepatitis - InDepth(In-Depth)Cirrhosis - InDepth(In-Depth)Crohn disease - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 2/28/2023 Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. 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Albumin blood (serum) testAlbumin is a protein made by the liver. A serum albumin test measures the amount of this protein in the clear liquid portion of the blood.Albumin can also be measured in the urine.UrineThis test looks for a protein called albumin in a urine sample. Albumin can also be measured using a blood test or another urine test, called the uri...Read Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. Blood sampleVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test 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 Growth hormoneThe growth hormone test measures the amount of growth hormone in the blood. The pituitary gland makes growth hormone, which causes a child to grow. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article InsulinDo not stop taking any of your medicines without talking to your provider first. How the Test will Feel 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. Why the Test is Performed 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.BilirubinThe bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This test can help determine if you have liver disease or kidney disease, or if your body is not absorbing enough protein.Liver diseaseThe term "liver disease" applies to many conditions that stop the liver from working or prevent it from functioning well. Abdominal pain or swelling...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ProteinProteins are the building blocks of life. Every cell in the human body contains protein. The basic structure of protein is a chain of amino acids. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results 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. What Abnormal Results Mean 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])HepatitisHepatitis is swelling and inflammation of the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AscitesAscites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased blood albumin may occur when your body does not get or absorb enough nutrients, such as with:After weight-loss surgery Celiac disease (damage of the lining of the small intestine due to eating gluten) Celiac diseaseCeliac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten. This ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Crohn disease (inflammation of the digestive tract) Crohn diseaseCrohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low-protein diets Whipple disease (condition that prevents the small intestine from allowing nutrients to pass into the rest of the body)Whipple diseaseWhipple disease is a rare condition that mainly affects the small intestine. This prevents the small intestine from allowing nutrients to pass into ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Increased blood albumin may be due to:Dehydration High protein diet Having a tourniquet on for a long time when giving a blood sampleDrinking too much water (water intoxication) may also cause abnormal albumin results.Other conditions for which the test may be performed:Burns (widespread) Wilson disease (condition in which there is too much copper in the body)Wilson diseaseWilson disease is an inherited disorder in which there is too much copper in the body's tissues. The excess copper damages the liver and nervous sys...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks 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 bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood collecting under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Considerations If you are receiving large amounts of intravenous fluids, the results of this test may be inaccurate.Albumin will be decreased during pregnancy.Open ReferencesReferencesMcPherson 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.