albumin in serum/plasma
Indications
- evaluation of
Reference interval
- Male & Female: 3.5 - 5.1 g/dL
Principle
The Kodak Ektachem Clinical Chemistry Slide (ALB) quantitatively measures albumin concentration in serum or plasma.
The Kodak Ektachem Clinical Chemistry Slide (ALB) is a dry, multilayered, analytical element coated on a clear polyester support.
A 10uL drop of sample is deposited on the slide & is evenly distributed by the spreading layer & allowed to penetrate into the underlying reagent layer.
When the fluid penetrates the reagent layer, the bromcresol green dye diffuses to the spreading layer & binds to albumin from the sample. This binding results in a shift in wavelength of the reflectance maxima of the free dye. The color complex that forms is measured by reflection spectrophotometry. The amount of albumin dye is proportional to the concentration of albumin in the sample.
The reaction sequence is described below:
Albumin + Bromcresol (BCG) ------------> BCG-Albumin complex
Clinical significance
Plasma levels of albumin reflect liver synthetic capacity.
Because levels depend on protein intake, serum albumin is frequently used to assess nutritional status.
However, since albumin is a negative acute phase reactant, low levels are seen with inflammatory states as well as malnutrition.
Moderate to large changes in plasma concentration of albumin have significant effect on the relative amounts of the bound & free concentrations of ligands it carries, including calcium, bilirubin & fatty acids, drugs & hormones. It is free ligand that interacts with tissue receptor sites & which can be excreted,
Albumin levels, although important for management & follow-up, have very little value in diagnosis. Hyperalbuminemia is of little diagnostic significance except in dehydration. Hypoalbuminemia, however,is very common in many illnesses & results in most instances from one or more of the following factors:
- impaired synthesis, either primary as in liver disease or secondary to diminished protein intake.
- increased catabolism as a result of tissue damage & inflammation.
- reduced absorption of amino acids caused by malabsorption syndromes or malnutrition.
- protein loss in urine due to nephrotic syndrome, diabetes, or systemic lupus erythematosus.
Hypoalbuminemia is a non-specific finding but provides prognostic information, especially in conjunction with hypocholesterolemia, In a community setting, hypoalbuminemia is associated with poor functional status, sarcopenia, increased use of healthcare resources, & increased mortality.[21]
Increases
Decreases
- rapid hydration, overhydration, volume expansion
- severe malnutrition or malabsorption
- diffuse liver disease
- nephrotic syndrome
- neoplasia or other chronic disease
- inflammatory syndromes
Specimen
Preparation: No special patient preparation is required.
For serum preparation: Collect whole blood & allow to clot according to manufacturer's instructions. Collect the specimen by the standard venipuncture technique & the serum removed promptly from the clot.
Minimum sample size 0.5 milliliter
Optimum size of 1.0 milliliter or larger.
More general terms
More specific terms
Additional terms
Component of
- chemistry 14 panel (comprehensive metabolic panel, CMP, chem 12, SMA12, SMA20)
- albumin renal clearance
- calcium/albumin in serum/plasma
- albumin in peritoneal fluid/albumin in serum
- albumin in CSF/albumin in serum
- IgG/Albumin in serum
- albumin in CSF/albumin in plasma
- parathyroid panel
- renal function tests; renal function panel
- enteral/parenteral nutrition management panel
- bone/joint panel
- albumin/protein total in serum
- albumin/globulin in serum
References
- ↑ Tietz NW: Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. W.B. Saunders Co.,Philadelphia, 1987, p.589.
- ↑ Corcoran RM, Durnan SM: Albumin Determination by a Modified Bromcresol Green Method. Clinical Chemistry 23(4), 1977, p.765.
- ↑ Friedman RB, Young DS: Effects of Disease on Clinical Laboratory Tests, Washington, Dc.;AACC Press, 1990.
- ↑ Kaplan, L. & Pesce, A., Clinical Chemistry: Theory, Analysis & Correlation, C.V. Mosby Company, St. Louis, MO., 1984, p.1268-1271.
- ↑ Kodak Ektachem 700 Analyzer Operator's Manual, Kodak Clinical Products Division, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, New York.
- ↑ Package Insert, Kodak Ektachem Clinical Chemistry Slide (ALB), Kodak Clinical Product, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, New York.
- ↑ Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 4th edition, HB Wu ed, WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 2006
- ↑ Albumin, Serum or Plasma Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0020030.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 11 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0020144.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 15 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0020408.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 7 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0020416.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 10 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0050615.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 6 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0050640.jsp
- ↑ Albumin, Serum/Plasma, Neph Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0050671.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 8 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0050676.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 17 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0051223.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 16 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0051225.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 10 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0080440.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 7 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0000000.jsp
- ↑ Panel of 10 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: http://www.aruplab.com/guides/ug/tests/0000000.jsp
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Geriatric Review Syllabus, 8th edition (GRS8) Durso SC and Sullivan GN (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2013