Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Albumin Test
This test measures the amount of albumin in the fluid used during peritoneal dialysis. Albumin is an important protein that normally stays in your blood, so finding it in your drained dialysis fluid helps your doctor evaluate how well your dialysis is working and check the health of your peritoneal membrane, the thin lining of your abdomen that filters waste during treatment.
{"Albumin is a protein that can leak into dialysis fluid when the peritoneal membrane is damaged","This test helps evaluate if peritoneal dialysis is working effectively","Regular monitoring can detect complications like peritonitis early","The test involves collecting dialysis fluid before and after the dwell time","Results help doctors adjust dialysis prescriptions for optimal treatment"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 40599-3
- Short code
- ALB-PDF
- Synonyms
- Albumin DiafP-mCnc
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Sterile screw-cap container or urine collection container
- Units
- not specified
- Ref low
- 0
- Ref high
- 0.3
- Critical range
- 1.5 not specified – —
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- Bromocresol green (BCG) or Bromocresol purple (BCP) colorimetric assay
- CPT
- 82043
- SNOMED
- 314255001
- Specimen volume
- Minimum 1 mL, preferred 5-10 mL of dialysis effluent
- Stability
- Refrigerated (2-8°C): up to 7 days; Frozen (-20°C): up to 3 months. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 50
- Lipemia max
- 300
- Icterus max
- 20
- TAT
- 24–72 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
The Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Albumin Test measures the amount of albumin (a vital protein made by your liver) in the fluid that is used during peritoneal dialysis. During dialysis, a special cleaning solution is introduced into your abdominal cavity through a catheter. This solution draws waste and excess fluids from your blood through the peritoneal membrane (the lining of your abdomen). Normally, albumin stays in your blood, but if the peritoneal membrane becomes damaged or inflamed, albumin can leak into the dialysis fluid.
Why is it performed?
This test is performed for several important reasons: (1) To assess the adequacy of peritoneal dialysis - measuring how well the treatment is removing waste from your body; (2) To monitor the health of your peritoneal membrane - the thin tissue that acts as the filter during dialysis; (3) To detect complications early, such as peritonitis (infection of the peritoneal membrane) or membrane damage; (4) To help determine if your dialysis prescription needs adjustment; (5) To evaluate nutritional status, as albumin is an important marker of nutrition.
How is the test done?
The test is simple and part of your regular dialysis routine. Your dialysis solution (dialysate) is collected at specific time points - typically when the fresh solution is infused (inflow) and when it is drained out after the prescribed dwell time (outflow). The drained fluid is then sent to a laboratory where the albumin concentration is measured. The difference between the inflow and outflow albumin levels helps your healthcare team understand how your peritoneal membrane is functioning.
What do the results mean?
Normal results show minimal albumin loss in the dialysis fluid. Higher than expected albumin levels in the drained fluid may indicate: (1) Peritonitis or peritoneal infection; (2) Mechanical problems with the dialysis catheter; (3) Increased peritoneal membrane permeability; (4) Overly aggressive dialysis prescription. Your healthcare team will interpret these results in context with other tests and your overall clinical condition to make treatment decisions.
Reference range
Reference interval not establishednot specified
No special preparation required; specimen is peritoneal dialysis effluent collected during dialysis
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
The peritoneal dialysis fluid albumin test is clinically significant because it serves as a direct indicator of peritoneal membrane integrity. When the membrane is healthy, it acts as a selective barrier, allowing waste products to pass through while retaining important proteins like albumin in the blood. When the membrane becomes damaged due to infection, inflammation, or long-term wear from dialysis, it becomes more permeable and allows albumin to leak into the dialysis fluid. This protein loss can contribute to malnutrition and worsen outcomes for patients on peritoneal dialysis. Regular monitoring helps detect these changes early, allowing for timely interventions such as treating infections, adjusting dialysis parameters, or in severe cases, transitioning to hemodialysis. The test is considered an essential component of routine peritoneal dialysis follow-up and helps ensure patients receive adequate renal replacement therapy.
Frequently asked questions
Does this test hurt?
How often should this test be done?
What can I do to keep my peritoneal membrane healthy?
What happens if my albumin loss is high?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 17, 2026. · Read our editorial policy