Albumin – when should the test be performed? Albumin standards

Proven content

Albumin are the main proteins of the blood serum produced in the liver. They perform a transport function for hormones, drugs, fatty acids and amino acids. They play one of the most important roles in maintaining proper colloidosmotic pressure. The material needed to test albumin is serum.

What are albumin?

Albumin play the most important role in maintaining normal colloidosmotic pressure, preventing plasma from flowing into the tissues (i.e. edema). They are proteins that are found in large amounts in the human body. Albumin is produced by liver cells (hepatocytes) in amounts of 15 g per day, which makes them the largest amount of proteins in human plasma (60% of all proteins). Characteristic for albumin is their high capacity and low binding affinity for yans and some metabolites, e.g. uric acid. In addition, albumin is responsible for binding certain hormones (e.g. T3, T4) as well as amino acids and drugs. Their special feature is amphiproticity, i.e. the ability to bind both anions and cations. The level of this protein may increase in the body due to physical activity or a certain body position. Also, wearing a tourniquet during blood collection causes the serum albumin concentration to increase.

Functions of albumin

1. Albumin transport function – proteins transport large amounts of hormones (e.g. cortisol), drugs (e.g. antibiotics) as well as vitamins, fatty acids and lipids. Unlike other proteins, albumin are key transporters. Sodium, magnesium, potassium and zinc can bind to albumin and move in this form in the body. For this reason, a distinction between total and ionized calcium is sometimes seen in blood tests.

2. The function of holding a constant oncotic pressure – albumin primarily maintains a constant oncotic pressure in the body. This is to regulate the amount of water in the blood and to prevent it from entering the tissue fluid from the plasma. The oncotic pressure somewhat balances the hydrostatic pressure in the blood and allows water and electrolytes to flow out of the vessels. In short: it prevents the formation of edema.

3. Buffer function (keeping the blood pH constant) – albumin is part of the blood buffer system. The protein buffer (containing the highest amount of albumin) is responsible for maintaining the correct pH of the blood, which should be around 7,35-7,45. Incorrect pH leads to alkalosis or acidification of the body, so its constant level is very important. The constant pH value of our blood is the main condition for the fulfillment of various physiological processes in the body – from respiration to the excretion of harmful metabolites.

When do we do the albumin test?

1. Suspicion of liver, kidney and gastrointestinal diseases.

2. Severe general condition.

3. Malnutrition, cachexia.

4. Eating disorders (anorexia, malnutrition in the elderly, incorrect diet).

5. Edema.

6. Nephrotic syndrome (we are talking about it when we lose protein in the amount of more than 3,5 g per day with urine).

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Albumin, in addition to other proteins determined in the proteinogram, is part of the so-called hepatic profile, i.e. a set of tests allowing to assess its condition to some extent. In addition, they are marked with, among others parameters such as:

1. Alat
2. total bilirubin
3. LDH
4. proteinogram
5. Aspat
6. GGTP
7. ALP
8. tests for viral hepatitis

Albumin – preparation for the test

Albumin test material: serum, most often from veins very clearly visible and located at the ulnar fossa, in children it is a small lancet incision in the skin to cause tiny bleeding. The collected sample is then sent on for analysis.

Preparation for albumin testing: on an empty stomach (at least 8 hours).

The course of the study: one-time blood sampling from a vein in the arm.

Time to wait for the result: 1 Day.

Norms for albumin: depend on many factors, including patient’s age, sex, and determination methods. For this reason, the test result should always be consulted with a doctor. Approximate norms for particular periods of life:

1. children (not preterm) -4,6-7,4 g / dl,
2. 7-19 years -3,7-5,6 g / dl,
3. adults -3,5-5,5 g / dl.

Comments: The determination of albumin concentration is an element of serum protein electrophoresis. It is recommended to fast before performing the test. The last meal can be eaten at 18 p.m. the previous day.

Albumin test – how to analyze the results?

People who have elevated levels of serum albumin are suspected dehydration. In contrast, a low level of albumin in the blood indicates:

1. pregnancy (this is a period characterized by large changes in the woman’s body, and low levels of albumin may be a consequence of, for example, an increase in the volume of blood circulating in the pregnant woman’s body),
2. ongoing inflammation in the body,
3. malnutrition (testing the level of albumin allows you to monitor your health and look for the causes of weight loss),
4. amyloidosis, plasma cell leukemia, multiple myeloma,
5. celiac disease
6. Crohn’s disease,
7. nephrotic syndrome,
8. high temperature,
9. a genetic disease in which albumin is not present in the blood serum (analbuminemia),
10. exudates,
11. cancer (also in the case of cancer, a low level of albumin is observed; however, you should not rely only on this one test),
12. Burns,
13. bleeding.

Symptoms of low albumin levels:

1. nausea and vomiting
2. bad mood,
3. general weakness
4. diarrhea (chronic)
5. malnutrition and sometimes even cachexia,
6. ascites,
7. swelling of the eyes
8. swelling around the ankles.

The finding of a low albumin level is not, in itself, a reason to start treatment. Before any action is taken, other parameters should be determined and the patient’s general clinical condition should be assessed.

The use of albumin in medicine

As previously mentioned, human albumin accounts for more than half of all plasma proteins. Thanks to its presence in the intercellular spaces, it is in contact with all cells of the body. This protein is very soluble in water as well as in acidic environment and in salt solutions. The most important tasks of albumin:

1. maintenance of oncotic blood pressure,
2. binding and transport of ligands (exo and endogenous),
3. ability to scavenge oxygen radicals,
4. sealing blood vessels,
5. nutritional function.

Too little albumin in the blood causes serious ailments and diseases. In such people, swelling may occur, among other things. Sometimes low or no serum albumin is genetically determined.

During the Second World War, albumin was administered intravenously to save human health and life. This protein was and is still used in swelling, large hemorrhages, burns and poisoning with toxic substances. The binding of ligands by albumin is used, for example, in the treatment of haemolytic disease in newborns. In addition, the administration of albumin prevents the formation of irreversible changes in the nervous system. Albumin preparations are considered completely safe in terms of microbiological purity. Most often it is used in diluted or concentrated solutions in 0,9% NaCl, in glucose or in Ringer’s liquid.

In recent years, research has been conducted on the new use of albumin. This is related to the observation of the accumulation of albumin particles in cancerous tumors and inflammatory sites. Currently, intensive research is carried out on the combination of albumin with drugs used in the treatment of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. These studies are very important because such a combination allows for the use in targeted therapy and at the same time increasing the dose acting at the site of the disease and reducing the toxicity of drugs on the entire body.

Some time ago, the importance of albumin in targeted therapy in liver diseases was also discovered.