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Test Code ALB Albumin LAB45

Performing Laboratory

UnityPoint The Finley Hospital

Test Method

Bromcresol Green Timed Endpoint; Roche cobas Pro

Performance

Testing is performed Monday through Sunday.

Routine orders: Typically completed within 4 hours.

STAT orders: Typically completed within 30 minutes after
the specimen arrives at the testing site.

Specimen Requirement

  1. Lithium heparin plasma (Green) is the specimen of choice.
  2. Serum (Red/Gold) and EDTA plasma (Purple) are also acceptable sample types. 
  3. It is recommended that the serum or plasma be separated from contact with cells within 2 hours from time of collection.
  4. Albumin is stable at room temperature (20-25ºC) for 2.5 months, refrigerated (2-8ºC) for 5 months, and frozen (-20ºC) for 4 months.

Useful For

Albumin constitutes 55‑65 % of total plasma protein. Albumin binds and solubilizes various compounds, e.g. bilirubin, calcium and long‑chain fatty acids. Furthermore, albumin is capable of binding toxic heavy metal ions as well as numerous pharmaceuticals, which is the reason why lower albumin concentrations in blood have a significant effect on pharmacokinetics.

Hyperalbuminemia is of little diagnostic significance except in the case of dehydration. Hypoalbuminemia occurs during many illnesses and is caused by several factors: liver disease or as a consequence of reduced protein uptake; tissue damage (severe burns) or inflammation; malabsorption of amino acids (Crohn’s disease); proteinuria as a consequence of nephrotic syndrome; protein loss via the stool (neoplastic disease). The determination of albumin allows monitoring of a controlled patient dietary supplementation and serves also as an excellent test of liver function.

Reference Values

3.5-5.2 g/dL

CPT Code Information

82040 Chemistry: Albumin; serum, plasma or whole blood

LOINC Code Information

1751-7 Albumin [Mass/Volume] In Serum Or Plasma