Albumin Blood Test

What is an albumin blood test?

An albumin blood test checks the amount of albumin in your blood. Albumin is a protein in your blood plasma. Your liver makes it. Albumin keeps fluid from leaking out of your bloodstream. It also helps vitamins, enzymes, hormones and other substances circulate throughout your body. Your healthcare provider might order an albumin blood test if they think your liver or kidneys aren’t working as they should.

When do you need an albumin blood test?

An albumin blood test is a liver function test. You might need it, in addition to other blood tests or urinalysis, if you have symptoms of liver disease or kidney disease. Albumin levels can also indicate underlying nutritional deficits, like if you’re not getting enough protein.

Symptoms of liver disease may include:

• Bruises
• Dark-colored pee
• Fatigue
• Jaundice
• Loss of appetite
• Changes to your poop, like pale-colored poop
• Edema (swelling) in your belly or legs
• Unexplained weight loss

Symptoms of kidney disease may include:

• Appetite loss
• Fatigue or trouble concentrating
• Frequent urination, especially at night (nocturia)
• Itchy or dry skin
• Muscle cramps or weakness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swelling in your feet, ankles or face
• Trouble sleeping
• Urine changes, like bloody, foamy or dark pee

How do I prepare for an albumin blood test?

You don’t need to do anything special to prepare for an albumin blood test. Your healthcare provider may want you to fast (not eat or drink) before the test if you’re having other blood tests in addition to this one. You may also need to stop taking certain medications before the test. Some drugs can affect albumin levels in the blood.

What happens during an albumin blood test?

An albumin blood test is quick and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. You might have the test at a lab, in your healthcare provider’s office or in a hospital.

Here’s what you can expect:

1. A phlebotomist uses a thin needle to take blood from a vein in your arm.
2. You might feel a pinch or some discomfort from the needle.
3. The phlebotomist fills a collection tube with blood and then removes the needle.
4. They place a small bandage on your arm, which you can remove in a few hours.

You can go home and return to your normal activities right away.

What do albumin blood test results mean?

Normal albumin levels in an adult’s blood range from 3.5 to 5.5 grams per deciliter (g/dL). A normal range can vary by laboratory, though.

Lower-than-normal albumin levels in your blood may be a sign of:

• Infection
• Inflammation due to sepsis, surgery or another condition
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease, including cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer or hepatitis A, B or C
• Poor nutrition or signs your body can’t absorb certain nutrients
• Pregnancy or taking birth control pills
• Thyroid disease
• Whipple disease

Higher than normal albumin levels in your blood (hyperalbuminemia) may be a sign of:

• Dehydration
• Severe diarrhea
• Eating too much protein

When will I know the results of my albumin blood test?

It might take a few days to get the results of your albumin blood test. Ask your healthcare provider when you can expect them. Once you receive them, ask your provider what your results mean.

If the results are abnormal, what are the next steps?

Your test results alone won’t diagnose a condition. Your healthcare provider may order other tests that look at your liver and kidney function. They may also ask you what foods you typically eat to get a better idea of gaps in your nutrition or what may be causing abnormal albumin levels.