Albumin Fluid Test

Albumin Fluid Test Overview

The albumin fluid test, also known as albumin body fluid test is used to detect the albumin levels in blood. Albumin is a protein, naturally secreted by the liver, that helps to repair any tissue damage and also maintain the structural integrity of blood cells in a body. Extremely low levels of albumin can compromise the patient’s immune system and hinder the patient’s treatment process and may result in non-responsiveness to the treatment. It is also one of the first tests that doctors order to get a complete medical health profile, when a patient is in an emergency room. The test can help doctors determine the efficiency of their treatment.

When is Albumin Fluid Test Prescribed?

An albumin fluid test measures the amount of albumin in the collected blood sample. As a compound, albumin helps prevent leakage of fluids from the blood vessels. Here are some of the most common scenarios where an albumin fluid test is prescribed by doctors.

• To test for kidney and liver function
• To check for malnutrition and inadequate protein intake in patients
• Checking for edema and fluid imbalance in the body
• Preoperative nutritional assessment
• Evaluation of chronic illnesses

Albumin Fluid Test Components

The normal range of albumin fluid in your body is 3.4 to 5.4 g/dL for adults. However, this value can vary slightly between different laboratories. If your test results are abnormal, it could indicate certain health conditions to doctors such as: 

• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Fluid imbalance
• Inflammatory bowel disease

Procedure and Prerequisites

The procedure for this blood test involves collecting blood from a patient’s veins preferably from the arms. There are no special prerequisites for this test. However, it is important for you to declare if you are taking medications such as insulin to your doctor before the test as it can alter the test results.