The liver produces Albumin, one of the most common proteins in our bloodstream. Albumin regulates the body's fluid equilibrium by controlling the functions of the blood vessels. In addition to that, Albumin also aids in tissue repair and growth by carrying important hormones and nutrients throughout the body. Let’s find out why and when an Albumin blood test is ordered by a physician and what the test results implicate.
Albumin is a protein found in blood plasma, and the albumin blood test measures the quantity of albumin in your bloodstream. Low albumin levels in the blood often suggest severe liver and kidney issues, on the other hand, high amounts of albumin, also known as hyperalbuminemia, can be caused by dehydration or certain medications. Your doctor may request an albumin blood test just as part of a routine checkup or to identify the cause of various health problem symptoms.
An albumin blood test measures liver function, and it may be necessary in addition to other blood tests or urinalysis if you have liver or kidney disease symptoms! Albumin levels might potentially suggest underlying dietary deficiencies, such as insufficient protein intake, in certain cases.
Symptoms of liver disease might include bruises, dark-colored urine, fatigue, jaundice, loss of appetite, changes in your stool, edema (swelling) in your abdomen or legs, unexplained weight loss, and more. Symptoms of kidney disease can include frequent urination, particularly at night (nocturia), appetite loss, fatigue, itchy or dry skin, muscle cramps, weakness, nausea, vomiting, swelling in the feet, ankles, or face, sleeping problems, and others.
The test determines whether you have abnormal quantities of albumin in your blood, and excessively high or low levels may suggest an underlying health issue. Albumin testing, either alone or in combination with other data, can help diagnose, screen, and monitor a variety of illnesses! A doctor may order an Albumin blood test for diagnosis purposes if you have indicators of potential liver illness, such as jaundice or exhaustion, or symptoms of potential renal disease, such as irregular urination or unexplained edema, especially in the feet and legs.
Screening is a type of examination that aims to detect health issues before symptoms appear but is not often done by measuring albumin alone. Still, an Albumin blood test may be combined alongside other tests in a comprehensive metabolic panel or liver panel to check if you have the albumin levels normal values. It is sometimes ordered as part of a normal medical check-up as a screening measure. Monitoring is a method of conducting tests to see how your condition progresses or reacts to therapy! Follow-up testing for albumin levels in your blood may reveal the severity of a disease and how it progresses over time.
The normal albumin levels in urine range are 3.4 to 5.4 g/dL (grams per deciliter). Remember, test results may differ depending on your age, gender, medical history, and other factors, as well as the lab utilized. Your test results will not diagnose a problem, however, your doctor will take the result into consideration for diagnosis or use them to suggest further tests to assess your liver and kidney function! They may also ask you what foods you regularly eat in order to better understand nutritional gaps or what is generating aberrant albumin levels in your body.
Some variables are linked to higher-than-normal albumin levels.
High albumin levels may not necessarily result in any specific symptoms, however, you may have symptoms related to the underlying cause of excessive albumin.
Albumin test values below the normal level might indicate certain diseases.
Usually, it is not required of you to fast before taking a serum albumin test, however, certain drugs may bias the test findings. So, before a serum albumin test, persons may need to reduce or discontinue medications such as anabolic steroids, insulin, and growth hormones. Remember, you should see your doctor before changing the doses or discontinuing any drug entirely, similarly, you should notify your doctor about any drugs you are now on before taking the test. Your doctor will assess if you need to temporarily adjust your medications for the test!
Albumin blood testing can assist in determining renal difficulties, liver illness, and digestive issues, however, it can also be part of a routine health check-up! Only a small blood sample needs to be taken for an Albumin blood test, and abnormal test findings may require further testing or medical intervention.
To receive an Albumin blood test, contact Pathkind Labs today! Get your test done by the experts of the lab with access to modern laboratory technology. You will receive accurate test results in just a few days!