The albumin exam is done with the objective of verifying the patient's general nutritional status and identifying possible kidney or liver problems.
Albumin is the protein present in the highest concentration in the blood, it is produced by the liver and its main functions are to transport hormones, vitamins, nutrients and medicines, regulate the pH and maintain the body's osmotic balance, thus regulating the amount of water in the blood. Thus, the synthesis of albumin by the liver is regulated by the person's nutritional status, amount of hormones produced and circulating in the body and blood pH.
The examination of albumin is requested when there is suspicion of kidney and liver diseases, mainly, with low levels of albumin in the blood being verified, which leads the doctor to request additional tests so that he can conclude the diagnosis.
In the case of suspected kidney disease, the doctor may order a urine test and measurement of albumin in the urine, and the presence of albumin in the urine, called albuminuria, can be checked and indicate kidney damage. Learn more about albuminuria and main causes.
Reference values
Normal albumin values may vary according to the laboratory in which the test is performed and also according to age.
| Age | Reference value |
| 0 to 4 months | 20 to 45 g / L |
| 4 months to 16 years | 32 to 52 g / L |
| From 16 years | 35 to 50 g / L |
In addition to varying according to the laboratory and the person's age, the values of albumin in the blood can also be influenced by the use of medication, diarrhea for a long period, burns and malnutrition.
What is it for
The albumin exam is requested by the doctor to assess the person's nutritional status and assist in the diagnosis of kidney and liver diseases, in addition to being requested before surgery to check the general condition of the patient.
Normally albumin is ordered along with other tests, such as the measurement of urea, creatinine and total protein in the blood, especially when there are symptoms of liver disease, such as jaundice, or kidney disease. Understand what it is and how the test for total proteins in the blood is done.
To perform the albumin examination, fasting is not necessary and is done by analyzing a blood sample collected in the laboratory. It is important to inform the use of medications, such as anabolic steroids, insulin and growth hormone, for example, as they can interfere with the test result.
What the results mean
The increased value of albumin in the blood, also called hyperalbuminemia, is usually related to dehydration. This is because in dehydration there is a decrease in the amount of water present in the body, which alters the proportion of albumin and water, indicating a higher concentration of albumin in the blood.
Decreased albumin
The decreased value of albumin, also called hypoalbuminemia, can occur due to several situations, such as:
- Kidney problems, in which there is an increase in its excretion in the urine; Intestinal changes, which prevent its absorption in the intestine; Malnutrition, in which there is no correct absorption or adequate intake of nutrients, interfering with the absorption or production of albumin; Inflammation, mainly related to the intestine, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
In addition, decreased values of albumin in the blood can also be indicative of liver problems, in which there is a decrease in the production of this protein. Thus, the doctor may request additional tests to assess the health of the liver. See which tests assess the liver.
