Serum or Plasma Total Protein by Bromocresol Purple Method
This test measures the total amount of protein in your blood, which includes albumin and other proteins like globulins. Proteins help maintain fluid balance, support immune function, and transport nutrients.
["Total protein levels can indicate overall health, hydration status, or potential liver/kidney issues."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 34464-8
- Short code
- BAbTiter
- Synonyms
- B Ab Titr SerPl AHG
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top serum tube (no anticoagulant) or serum separator tube (SST); EDTA plasma (lavender-top tube) is also acceptable
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- antihuman-globulin
- CPT
- 86886
- SNOMED
- 115698000
- Specimen volume
- 3-5 mL of whole blood (minimum 1 mL of serum or plasma)
- Stability
- Room temperature: 24 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): up to 7 days; Frozen (-20°C or below): up to 1 month for long-term storage. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
Why It’s Done
Your healthcare provider may order this test to check for conditions like malnutrition, kidney disease, liver disease, or dehydration. It can also help monitor treatment responses in certain conditions.
What to Expect
A small blood sample is drawn from a vein, usually in your arm. The sample is sent to a lab where it’s tested using the bromocresol purple method to measure protein concentration.
Normal vs. Abnormal Results
While reference ranges vary by lab, lower than expected protein levels might suggest malnutrition or kidney problems, while very high levels could indicate conditions like multiple myeloma or severe dehydration.
Common Conditions Affecting Results
Low protein levels may be linked to chronic kidney disease, liver disease, or severe infections. High levels could be seen in dehydration, inflammation, or certain cancers.
Reference range
Negative (no detectable antibodies); if positive, titer is reported as the highest dilution of serum/plasma at which agglutination (1+) is observed (e.g., 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, etc.). Clinically significant antibodies typically have a titer ≥ 1:16.N/A
No special patient preparation required. Fasting is not necessary. Patients should be well-hydrated. Recent blood transfusions (within the past 3-4 months) may stimulate new antibody formation and affect results. Pregnancy history should be provided for obstetric patients.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings1
Short name
Total Protein
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get results?
What does a low protein level mean?
Can diet affect protein test results?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 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 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy