Lab test · Hepatology
Serum Albumin
Protein level, liver & nutrition
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 24 hours
- Home collection
What this test is for
Protein level, liver & nutrition
Albumin is the main protein in the blood and is made by the liver. It helps keep fluid inside the blood vessels and carries hormones, medicines, calcium and other substances around the body. Measuring albumin tells a doctor about liver function, protein loss through the kidneys or gut, and a person's nutrition.
Why a doctor may order it
- To look into swelling of the legs, ankles or abdomen
- As part of a liver function test in people with liver disease
- To check for protein loss in kidney conditions such as nephrotic syndrome
- To assess nutrition in people who are unwell, older or losing weight
- To help interpret a calcium result
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
Fasting is not required, and you can eat and drink as normal. Keep taking your usual medicines unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Try not to become dehydrated before the test, as this can make albumin look higher than it is.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- The collector draws a small blood sample from a vein in your arm at home. The band around your arm is kept on only briefly, because a long squeeze can slightly raise protein results.
- Report
- Within 24 hours of collection.
What the results can mean
A low albumin can be caused by long-term liver disease, protein loss through the kidneys or gut, poor nutrition, or any serious illness or inflammation. A high albumin is uncommon and usually reflects dehydration. Albumin changes slowly, so it reflects health over weeks rather than days. Your doctor will interpret the result alongside liver and kidney tests and your general health.
What's included
One test: Serum Albumin, from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Total Protein with A/G RatioThis test measures the total amount of protein in your blood and splits it into two main groups: albumin, made by the liver, and globulins, which include the antibodies that fight infection.
- Liver Function Test (LFT)Liver function৳550
- Kidney Function Test (RFT)A kidney function test, also called a renal function test (RFT), is a group of blood tests that show how well your kidneys are filtering waste from the blood.
- Urine Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (ACR)This test compares the amount of albumin, a protein, with the amount of creatinine, a waste product, in a single urine sample.
- Serum CalciumThis test measures the total amount of calcium in your blood.
- Urine Protein-Creatinine Ratio (PCR)This test measures the total protein and the creatinine in a single urine sample and compares them.
Questions people ask
What causes low albumin?
Common causes include liver disease, kidney conditions that leak protein into the urine, poor nutrition, severe infections and other serious illness.
Can low albumin cause swelling?
Yes. Albumin helps keep fluid inside blood vessels. When it is low, fluid can leak into the tissues and cause swelling of the legs, ankles or abdomen.
Why is albumin checked with calcium?
Much of the calcium in blood is carried on albumin. If albumin is low, total calcium can look low, so labs or doctors often use an adjusted calcium value.
How much does a Albumin test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳190, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the Albumin test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the Albumin report take?
The report is usually ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.