Serum Albumin Blood Test
The serum albumin test is a simple blood test that measures the level of albumin, a key protein produced by your liver, to help evaluate how well your liver and kidneys are working and to detect conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, and malnutrition.
{"Albumin is the main protein in blood, made by the liver","This test helps diagnose liver disease, kidney disease, and nutritional status","Low albumin may indicate liver damage, kidney problems, or malnutrition","The test requires a simple blood draw","Results are typically ready within a day"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 54347-0
- Short code
- ALB
- Synonyms
- Albumin SerPl-sCnc
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Serum separator tube (SST/gel tube) or plain red top tube
- Units
- not specified
- Ref low
- 0.53
- Ref high
- 0.75
- Critical range
- 0.23 not specified – 60 not specified
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- Bromocresol green (BCG) or Bromocresol purple (BCP) colorimetric method using spectrophotometry
- CPT
- 82040
- SNOMED
- 271254001
- Specimen volume
- 1-2 mL serum minimum
- Stability
- Room temperature: 7 days; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 14 days; Frozen (-20°C or below): 3 months
- Hemolysis max
- 50
- Lipemia max
- 300
- Icterus max
- 20
- TAT
- 2–24 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
The serum albumin test measures the amount of albumin in your blood. Albumin is a protein produced by the liver that makes up about 60% of the total protein in your blood. It plays several important roles in maintaining your health, including transporting hormones, vitamins, and medications throughout your body, maintaining fluid balance by keeping fluid inside your blood vessels, and helping with tissue repair and growth.
Why is this test performed?
Your healthcare provider may order an albumin test as part of a routine metabolic panel or comprehensive metabolic panel. It helps evaluate how well your liver is functioning since albumin is produced by the liver. The test also helps assess kidney function, as damaged kidneys may allow albumin to leak into urine. Additionally, it can help diagnose and monitor conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, malnutrition, and certain inflammatory conditions.
How is the test performed?
A healthcare professional will draw a small blood sample from a vein in your arm using a needle. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. You do not need to fast before this test, though your doctor may instruct you to do so based on other tests being performed simultaneously.
Understanding your results
Normal albumin levels typically range from 3.5 to 5.0 g/dL (35-50 g/L). However, reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your overall health and other test findings.
Reference range
0.53-0.75 mmol/Lnot specified
No special preparation or fasting required
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Low albumin levels (hypoalbuminemia) may indicate liver disease such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, kidney disease such as nephrotic syndrome, malnutrition or malabsorption, chronic inflammatory conditions, heart failure, or certain digestive disorders. High albumin levels (hyperalbuminemia) are less common and usually indicate dehydration. The albumin test is often interpreted together with other liver function tests to get a complete picture of liver health.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before the albumin test?
What can cause low albumin levels?
Is the albumin test dangerous?
How often should albumin be tested?
Sources
- 1
- 2May Clinic - Low AlbuminSource
- 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 10, 2026. · Read our editorial policy