Albumin is a key blood protein made by your liver that helps reflect liver health, nutrition, and hydration.
Albumin is the most common protein in your blood. The liver makes it, and it keeps fluid inside your blood vessels while carrying hormones, medicines, and other substances around the body.
Because the liver makes albumin and the kidneys normally keep it in the blood, the level reflects nutrition, liver function, and kidney health.
A low albumin can point to liver disease, poor nutrition, ongoing inflammation, or loss of protein through the kidneys or gut. Very low levels can lead to fluid building up in the legs or belly.
A high albumin is usually just dehydration rather than a disease. Albumin is most informative read together with total protein and liver markers.
Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.
| Group | Serum albumin (SI) |
| Adults | ~35 to 52 g/L |
Ranges are guidance only and vary by lab, assay, and age. Levels tend to be a little lower in older adults. Read your result against your own lab's reference interval, in line with DGKL practice.
Dehydration raises albumin, while lying down for a long time or a drip can lower it by dilution. Inflammation, pregnancy, and liver or kidney disease lower it. A tourniquet left on too long during the draw can nudge it up.
Best read with total protein and globulin (the albumin to globulin ratio), and with liver enzymes and a urine protein test.
What does my albumin result mean? High often points to dehydration. Low can relate to liver health, kidney protein loss, inflammation, or nutrition. Your clinician will interpret it with other tests.
Do I need to fast for this test? No. Fasting is not required for albumin. You can test at any time of day.
What can affect albumin levels? Hydration, posture, prolonged tourniquet use, pregnancy, recent IV fluids, hard exercise, or acute illness can shift results. Some medicines and supplements also play a role.
How often should I test albumin? Many people check it yearly in a metabolic or liver panel. If you’re monitoring a condition, your clinician may suggest more frequent checks.
How quickly will I get results? Results are usually ready in about 7 days.
What should I discuss with my clinician? Share symptoms, recent illnesses, diet changes, pregnancy status, and medications. Ask if you should repeat testing and which related tests are helpful.
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