Alpha Medical Lab

Albumin

Ordered Test Code:

ALB

Lab Test Component	Requirement
Test Name	Albumin
Alpha’s Order Test Code	ALB
Specimen Collection Tube	SST/ 1mL
Collection Tube Handling	Sodium heparin (green-top) tube, Lithium heparin (green-top) tube
Minimum Volume	0.5mL
Transport Temperture	Refrigerated
Stability	Refrigerated: 30 days; Frozen 6 months
Collection Instructions	1 mL serum

Clinical Significance

Serum albumin measurements are used in the monitoring and treatment of numerous diseases involving primarily the liver and kidney. Its main value lies in the follow-up therapy where improvement in the serum albumin level is the best sign of successful medical treatment. There may also be a loss of albumin in the gastrointestinal tract, in the urine by the damaged kidney or direct loss of albumin through the skin. More than 50% of patients with gluten enteropathy have depressed albumin. The only cause of increased albumin is dehydration; there is no naturally occurring hyperalbuminemia.