Protein Electrophoresis (Serum)

This blood test measures the main proteins circulating in the liquid portion of your blood: albumin and globulins. Albumin is produced by the liver and helps keep fluid inside your blood vessels, while globulins support your immune system and transport hormones, vitamins, and other substances throughout the body. Together, these results give your doctor a broad picture of your nutrition, liver function, kidney health, and overall protein balance.

Electrophoresis separates blood proteins based on size and electrical charge. Key components include albumin (the most abundant protein, supporting blood pressure and transport) and globulins (which include antibodies, immune proteins, and others like alpha, beta, and gamma globulins).

Your doctor may order this test to help evaluate symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, weight loss, swelling in your legs or abdomen, or yellowing of the skin and eyes. It is also routinely included in a comprehensive metabolic panel during general health checkups, and it is used to monitor known liver, kidney, or intestinal conditions and to track how well treatments such as nutritional therapy are working over time.

Your doctor may recommend this test to check for conditions affecting protein production, such as liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis), kidney disease, multiple myeloma, or autoimmune disorders.

A small blood sample is drawn from a vein, usually on the inside of your elbow or the back of your hand, by a trained phlebotomist. No fasting is needed for this test alone, although you may be asked to avoid food and drinks other than water for several hours if it is combined with other tests that require fasting. Tell the staff about any medications or supplements you take, and keep the bandage on the puncture site for a short while to reduce bruising.

A blood sample is drawn from a vein, usually in your arm. The sample is then processed to separate serum (the liquid part after clotting) for analysis. No special preparation is needed, but fasting may be advised in some cases.

This panel is commonly used to monitor chronic liver disease such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, kidney disorders like nephrotic syndrome that cause protein loss through the urine, malnutrition and eating disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and other malabsorption conditions, and certain blood cancers including multiple myeloma. Regular testing allows your care team to follow trends in your results and adjust your treatment plan when needed.

This test helps diagnose or monitor conditions like hypoalbuminemia (low albumin), hyperglobulinemia (high globulins), or shifts in protein patterns that may indicate chronic inflammation, infections, or metabolic disorders.