Total Serum Protein: Results
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Results
A total serum protein test is a blood test that measures the amounts of total protein, albumin, and globulin in the blood. Results are usually available within 12 hours.
Normal
Normal values may vary from lab to lab.
Total protein: | 5.5–9.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL) |
|---|---|
Albumin: | 3.5–5.5 g/dL |
Globulin: | 2.0–3.5 g/dL |
Albumin/globulin ratio: | Greater than 1.0 |
High values
High albumin levels may be caused by:
- Severe dehydration.
High globulin levels may be caused by:
- Diseases of the blood, such as multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, macroglobulinemia, or hemolytic anemia.
- An autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, autoimmune hepatitis, or sarcoidosis.
- Kidney disease.
- Liver disease.
- Tuberculosis.
Low values
Low albumin levels may be caused by:
- A poor diet (malnutrition).
- Severe burns.
- Kidney disease.
- Liver disease.
- An autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Gastrointestinal malabsorption syndromes, such as sprue or Crohn's disease.
- Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Uncontrolled diabetes.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Heart failure.
| Last updated: | January 02, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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