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Test ID ALB Albumin, Serum

Reporting Name

Albumin, S

Specimen Type

Serum


Necessary Information


Patient's age and sex are required.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged, and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.25 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 150 days
  Frozen  120 days

Reference Values

≥12 months: 3.5-5.0 g/dL

 

Reference values have not been established for patients who are <12 months of age.

 

For SI unit Reference Values, see https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/order-tests/si-unit-conversion.html

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

82040

Clinical Information

Albumin is a carbohydrate-free protein, which constitutes 55% to 65% of total plasma protein. It maintains oncotic plasma pressure, is involved in the transport and storage of a wide variety of ligands, and is a source of endogenous amino acids. Albumin binds and solubilizes various compounds, including bilirubin, calcium, long-chain fatty acids, toxic heavy metal ions, and numerous pharmaceuticals.

 

Hypoalbuminemia is caused by several factors: impaired synthesis due either to liver disease (primary) or due to diminished protein intake (secondary), increased catabolism as a result of tissue damage and inflammation, malabsorption of amino acids, and increased renal excretion (eg, nephrotic syndrome).

Interpretation

Hyperalbuminemia is of little diagnostic significance except in the case of dehydration. When plasma or serum albumin values fall below 2.0 g/dL, edema is usually present.

Cautions

Albumin values determined by the bromcresol green method may not be identical to the albumin values determined by electrophoresis.

Clinical Reference

1. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. Edited by CA Burtis, ER Ashwood. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 1999

2. Peters T, Jr: Serum albumin. In The Plasma Proteins. Vol 1. Second edition. Edited by F Putnam, New York, Academic Press, 1975

Method Description

The dye, bromcresol green (BCG), is added to serum in an acid buffer. The color intensity of the blue-green albumin-BCG complex is directly proportional to the albumin concentration and is determined photometrically.(Package insert: Roche Albumin reagent; Roche Diagnostic Corp., Indianapolis, IN, July 1999)

Report Available

Same day/1 to 2 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject

NY State Approved

Yes

Method Name

Photometric, Bromcresol Green

Useful For

Assessing nutritional status