Total Serum Protein
Albumin Test, Blood, Blood Protein Test, Globulin Test, Serum Protein Test
Results
A total serum protein test is a blood test that measures the amounts of total protein, albumin, and globulin in the blood. Results are usually available within 12 hours.
Normal
Normal values may vary from lab to lab.
Total serum protein Total protein:
5.5–9.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL)
Albumin:
3.5–5.5 g/dL
Globulin:
2.0–3.5 g/dL
Albumin/globulin ratio:
Greater than 1.0
High values
High albumin levels may be caused by:
- Severe dehydration.
High globulin levels may be caused by:
- Diseases of the blood, such as multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, macroglobulinemia, or hemolytic anemia.
- An autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, autoimmune hepatitis, or sarcoidosis.
- Kidney disease.
- Liver disease.
- Tuberculosis.
Low values
Low albumin levels may be caused by:
- A poor diet (malnutrition).
- Severe burns.
- Kidney disease.
- Liver disease.
- An autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Gastrointestinal malabsorption syndromes, such as sprue or Crohn's disease.
- Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Uncontrolled diabetes.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Heart failure.
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: January 2, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology | |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Test Overview | |
| Why It Is Done | |
| How To Prepare | |
| How It Is Done | |
| How It Feels | |
| Risks | |
 | Results |
| What Affects the Test | |
| What To Think About | |
| References | |
| Credits | |