Serum Albumin Level Test
Serum Albumin
Key Points
- Most abundant plasma protein (50-60% of total)
- Essential for maintaining oncotic pressure
- Major transport protein for drugs and endogenous substances
- Half-life of approximately 20 days
- Negative acute phase reactant
- Marker of nutritional status and liver function
Biochemistry & Function
Molecular Characteristics
- Structure
- Single polypeptide chain
- 585 amino acids
- Molecular weight: 66.5 kDa
- 17 disulfide bonds
- Binding Properties
- Multiple binding sites for various ligands
- High-affinity fatty acid binding
- Drug binding regions
- Metal ion binding capacity
Physiological Functions
- Transport
- Fatty acids and lipids
- Hormones and vitamins
- Bilirubin
- Drugs and medications
- Regulatory Functions
- pH buffering
- Antioxidant properties
- Anticoagulant effects
- Vascular permeability regulation
Clinical Significance
Diagnostic Value
- Nutritional Status Assessment
- Protein-energy malnutrition
- Chronic malnutrition
- Cachexia evaluation
- Disease Markers
- Liver function
- Kidney disease
- Inflammatory conditions
- Gastrointestinal disorders
Prognostic Indicator
- Critical Illness
- Mortality risk assessment
- Length of hospital stay
- Complications prediction
- Chronic Conditions
- Disease progression
- Treatment response
- Long-term outcomes
Testing Methods
Sample Collection
- Requirements
- Serum or plasma specimen
- Fasting not required
- Morning collection preferred
- Processing Guidelines
- Prompt separation
- Stability at room temperature: 4 days
- Refrigerated stability: 1 month
Analytical Methods
- Primary Techniques
- Bromcresol green (BCG) method
- Bromcresol purple (BCP) method
- Immunoturbidimetric assay
- Nephelometry
- Quality Control
- Method validation
- Standardization procedures
- External quality assessment
Result Interpretation
Reference Ranges
- Age-Specific Values
- Premature infants: 2.5-3.5 g/dL
- Term newborns: 3.0-4.2 g/dL
- Infants (1-12 months): 3.5-5.0 g/dL
- Children (1-15 years): 3.7-5.5 g/dL
Clinical Correlation
- Decreased Levels
- Severe: <2.5 g/dL
- Moderate: 2.5-3.0 g/dL
- Mild: 3.0-3.5 g/dL
- Interfering Factors
- Hydration status
- Acute illness
- Inflammatory states
- Posture changes
Pediatric Considerations
Developmental Aspects
- Age-Related Changes
- Fetal albumin synthesis
- Postnatal adaptation
- Growth-related variations
- Special Populations
- Premature infants
- Critically ill children
- Chronic disease states
Clinical Applications
- Growth Assessment
- Nutritional monitoring
- Protein status
- Development tracking
- Disease Management
- Acute illness
- Chronic conditions
- Post-operative care
Associated Disorders
Hypoalbuminemia
- Primary Causes
- Malnutrition
- Liver disease
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Protein-losing enteropathy
- Secondary Causes
- Inflammatory states
- Burns
- Trauma
- Sepsis
Management Implications
- Treatment Considerations
- Albumin replacement therapy
- Nutritional support
- Underlying disease management
- Monitoring Parameters
- Response to therapy
- Complications
- Long-term outcomes
Therapeutic Monitoring
Treatment Response
- Nutritional Interventions
- Dietary modifications
- Enteral nutrition
- Parenteral nutrition
- Albumin Therapy
- Indications
- Dosing strategies
- Response assessment
