Albumin (Blood)

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Albumin (Blood)

Testing Laboratory

Auckland Te Toka Tumai | Auckland Hospital

Department

Chemical Pathology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

SALB

Test Code (Numeric Code)

0109

Laboratory Handling

Sample Stability

2.5 months at 15-25°C, 5 months at 2-8°C, 4 months at -20°C

Associated Tests

Liver Function Tests (Blood)

Synonyms

Serum albumin

Turnaround Time

3 hours

Specimen Type

Plasma
Serum

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Lithium Heparin PST- Gel (Light Green Cap)

Acceptable

Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
Plain (Red Top)
SST II (Gold Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

3.5

No of Samples Required

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Heparin (Microtainer)

Acceptable

Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
Lithium Heparin PST- Gel (Light Green Cap)
Plain (Red Top)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

0.5

Additional Specimen Information

0.5 mL Paediatric Microtainer PST Blood (Preferred)
0.5 mL Paediatric Microtainer Plain Blood
0.5 mL Paediatric Microtainer Heparin Blood

Diagnostic Use

Serum albumin is NOT a nutritional marker.
Serum albumin decreases in response to a wide range of illnesses and trauma. Inflammation causes a cytokine-mediated shift to the extravascular space. Conversely, even severe malnutrition states such as marasmus and anorexia nervosa are not usually accompanied by decreased albumin levels. The only malnutrition state associated consistently with low albumin is Kwashiorkor. For these reasons, albumin is not useful as a nutritional marker, despite its traditional use in this role.

Serum-Ascites Albumin gradient (SAAG)
SAAG i.e. Plasma albumin minus by Ascitic fluid albumin (in g/L) has been used to distinguish 2 big groups of causes for ascites :
– portal hypertension related (e.g. liver cirrhosis or congestive heart failure) with SAAG described in literature as usually >=11g/L
– non-portal hypertension related (e.g malignant ascites, tuberculosis, pancreatitis) with SAAG described in literature as usually <11g/L
However, using cut point of 15g/L instead of 11g/L may improve sensitivity for non-portal hypertension related causes without losing specificity.

Interpretation

Increased albumin concentrations are either due to prolonged venostasis during specimen collection (artefactual), or dehydration.

Decreased concentrations may be due to:
– dilution (IV fluids, specimen taken from “drip arm”)
– decreased synthesis (liver failure)
– increased loss (nephrotic syndrome, burns, protein-losing enteropathy)
– shift to extravascular space (inflammation, trauma)
– increased catabolism ( malignancies, thyrotoxicosis, inflammation)
– analbuminemia (a rare genetic disorder)

Reference Intervals

Units : g/L

Age
0 – 3 months	25 – 40
3 – 12 months	32 – 45
> 1 year	32 – 48

Pregnancy
2 – 14 weeks	32 – 45
14 – 28 weeks	27 – 37
28 – 42 weeks	25 – 35

Test Method

Test performed by: LabPlus Automation
Principle: Dye-binding to bromocresol purple (BCP) - colorimetric
Reagents: Roche Assay
Analyser: Roche Cobas

Uncertainty of Measurement

Last updated: 22/07/2026

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Testing Laboratory

Department

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

Test Code (Numeric Code)

Laboratory Handling

Sample Stability

Associated Tests

Synonyms

Turnaround Time

Specimen Type

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

No of Samples Required

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Additional Specimen Information

Diagnostic Use

Interpretation

Reference Intervals

Test Method

Uncertainty of Measurement

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Albumin (Blood)

Overview

Testing Laboratory

Department

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

Test Code (Numeric Code)

Laboratory Handling

Sample Stability

Associated Tests

Synonyms

Turnaround Time

Specimen

Specimen Type

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

No of Samples Required

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Additional Specimen Information

Referral

Clinical Information/Test Method

Diagnostic Use

Interpretation

Reference Intervals

Test Method

Uncertainty of Measurement

Additional Information

Contact Information

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

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