What is an albumin blood test?
Albumin is the most abundant protein that circulates throughout our body. Albumin represents the total protein content of a healthy individual.
According to NCBI, the synthesis of albumin occurs in the liver hepatocytes, and the circulation occurs in the bloodstream immediately. They are produced at the rate of 10–15 grams per day.
Only a few amount of albumins will be stored in the liver, and in most cases, they will be sent out into the bloodstream rapidly.
The protein helps to maintain a balance in the fluid and prevents the leaking of blood vessels. It also helps to repair tissues and transports vital nutrients and hormones that are required by the body.
Albumin blood tests will help healthcare professionals to determine blood albumin levels with the help of laboratory procedures. This test will help identify a person’s nutritional status.
Why is an albumin blood test required?
An albumin blood test is required to check for a person’s general health. The test will also indicate a person’s liver and kidney function. If the liver and kidney are not functioning properly, it will be indicated in the test.
For example, if a person’s kidney is not functioning properly, there will be an excessive amount of albumin excreted from the body through the kidney.
If a person’s liver is not working properly, the liver will not synthesise enough albumin for the body. These will be indicated in the albumin blood test.
Albumin blood tests will be additionally required with other urine analyses if a person exhibits other symptoms of liver and kidney diseases.
Albumin blood tests will be asked by a healthcare professional if a person exhibits symptoms like
- Unexpected weight loss
- Jaundice
- Unexplained fatigue
- Unexpected swelling around eyes, stomach and legs.
Another reasons a doctor might ask for a serum albumin test is to monitor existing diseases like chronic pancreatitis or any other kidney diseases.
Symptoms of kidney disease
Some of the common symptoms of kidney diseases are discussed below.
Swelling of hands, feet and puffy eyelids
Kidney diseases can lead to certain diseases like swelling of hands and feet. A malfunctioning kidney can release a large amount of protein in the urine. This can lead to puffiness around the eyes or eyelids.
The kidney is responsible for removing excess fluid from the body. And when the kidneys fail, it can lead to the build-up of fluid and salts in your body. So, this can lead to swelling of hands and feet.
Itching and dry skin
Extreme dry skin can be a symptom of end-stage kidney disease. A person who has a malfunctioning kidney may have symptoms like itchy and dry skin.
A person affected with kidney disease will have limited fluid intake. So, this can lead to dry skin.
Excess or low urination
If a person has an excessive urge to urinate, especially during the night, it can indicate a person is affected by kidney disease.
Sometimes, a person might have low urination. This is caused when the kidneys fail to filter and excrete the excess fluid out of the body. This, in turn, can lead to swelling of hands and feet.
Cloudy white urination
A healthy person’s urine will contain various components like water, salts and other nutrient waste. Cloudy white urine is caused due to the presence of excess alkaline in the urine. This can indicate that a person has kidney disease.
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting can be common symptoms of many underlying conditions and diseases. In people affected with kidney disease, there can be a build-up of fluid or electrolytes, which can lead to nausea and vomiting.
Cramps in muscles
Cramps are a common symptom of kidney malfunction. People affected by kidney diseases will experience cramps, especially leg cramps, due to an imbalance in salts and electrolytes. Other causes may be due to nerve damage or blood flow issues.
Confusions
A state of being confused or having delirium is common in people with kidney diseases. Research says that this is caused due to build-up of toxins in the body. This can lead to brain damage.
Symptoms of liver disease
In most cases, liver diseases do not cause any noticeable symptoms. However, some of the common symptoms are discussed below.
Fatigue
According to NCBI, fatigue is common in people affected by liver diseases. The underlying pathogenesis of the symptom is still not clear.
Jaundice
Jaundice is an indication that a person has liver disease or a liver malfunction. Jaundice occurs when too much bilirubin builds up in the body.
Dark-coloured urine
People affected with liver diseases will have dark-coloured urine. This occurs when there is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is mainly caused due to viral infection in the liver. So, it leads to dark and brown-coloured urine.
Swelling of limbs
Liver diseases can affect and slow the flow of blood. This can lead to increased pressure in the portal veins. The fluid accumulation is also another reason for the swelling of limbs.
Loss of hunger
A person affected with liver diseases can have low ghrelin levels. Ghrelin is called the hunger hormone that stimulates a person’s urge to consume food.
Liver diseases can affect the ghrelin release, which can lead to a fall in the hormone, and a person will not experience the feeling of hungry.
Weakness
Liver diseases can lead to certain changes in central neurotransmission. This reduces the signal between the brain cells and the liver. This can lead to weakness.
Things to know before taking ABT
Like the other medical analysis, patients will not require any special preparation before the test. The patient need not fast or drink gallons of water to fill their stomach for the test.
However, the healthcare professional will instruct you to stop all the medications you are taking for a short period of time. It may be until you complete the test since some medications may interfere with the test results. Before pausing any medication, make sure you consult with your doctor.
However, if your doctor asks for additional tests like blood glucose levels, you will need to fast before the test.
Procedure of ABT
There is a procedure to be carried out for drawing blood for the test. The blood test will be quick and will not take more than a few minutes.
The professional will draw blood from your veins with the help of a needle.
The blood will be collected in a sterile tube and will be sent to the laboratory for further analysis.
When will I get my ABT results?
A person who has tested for albumin blood test will receive their test results in a few days. Additionally, when you complete your test, make sure you confirm with your healthcare provider about your expected date of results.
What does the test result mean?
The result of the albumin blood test will have the indication of normal and high albumin levels.
Low albumin levels
Low albumin levels can indicate that a person has kidney or liver diseases. It can indicate that a person has another medical condition.
A low albumin level is considered when a person has a serum albumin level of less than 3.4 grams per decilitre, and the condition is called hypoalbuminemia.
It is also important to evaluate the low albumin levels, and effective treatment is essential to treat the condition.
According to NCBI, low serum albumin is commonly related to increased mortality and morbidity. Additionally, the condition can be reversed with proper treatment.
High albumin levels
A normal albumin level is considered to be 3.4–5.4 g/dL. If a person has serum albumin higher than the normal range, it is considered to be high albumin levels, and the condition is called hyperalbuminemia.
The primary cause of high albumin can be due to dehydration, which is commonly caused by diarrhoea and other conditions.
Prevention of albumin imbalance
According to NCBI, albumin imbalance should be first treated with the underlying condition. For example, in a critically ill patient, albumin infusion is suggested, and it will purely depend on the clinical benefit of the patient.
Eating a balanced diet
The primary thing to be addressed with a person affected with albumin imbalance is the diet. A person should consume foods that are rich in nutrients and vitamins. Consuming protein-rich food is also important to prevent imbalance.
Reducing high sodium intake
A reduced sodium intake can also result in a decrease in albumin levels. This does not mean that you should consume foods that have a high salt content. Avoid consuming too much processed and salty foods like chips, canned meat and frozen foods.
Try to consume foods that have natural sodium content foods like cold cuts and cured meats, chicken, cheese and eggs.
Avoid alcohol
According to NCBI, people who consume a high amount of alcohol have a negative effect on the person’s kidneys. Additionally, alcohol consumption can also affect the person’s liver functionality.
To prevent such negative effects, it is advised to reduce or stop the consumption of alcohol.
Conclusion
If a person has an imbalance in serum albumin, it does not always mean that a person has an underlying condition or disease. It simply means that a person has nutritional deficiency and should increase the nutrient content in their diet.
Even after correcting their diet, if there is an imbalance, then that person should consult a doctor. Do not take any supplements or medications on your own.
However, there are certain medications that can increase a person’s albumin levels. So before taking the albumin test, pause your medications for some time.
