Adults: 3.4 - 5.4 g/dL
Preterm newborns: 3 - 4.2 g/dL
Term newborns: 3.5 - 5.4 g/dL
Children up to 1 year old: 4.4 - 5.4 g/dL
Children over 1 year old: 4 - 5.8 g/dL
In the International System of Units (SI), albumin in the blood is measured in mmol/L. The normal albumin level in the blood in the SI are:
Adults: 0.51 - 0.81 mmol/L
Preterm newborns: 0.45 - 0.64 mmol/L
Term newborns: 0.53 - 0.81 mmol/L
Children up to 1 year old: 0.67 - 0.81 mmol/L
Children over 1 year old: 0.60 - 0.88 mmol/L
Each laboratory must establish its own normal ranges for albumin in the blood. These ranges depend on the makeup of the local population, the technologies used and the accuracy of the measurement. There may be also slight differences in the normal levels, according to age, gender, race or ethnic origin, geographic region, diet, type of sample and other relevant status.
Your doctor will study the results along with your medical record, screenings, physical condition, symptoms and any other relevant information about your situation.
Albumin is a protein that serves as a transport protein, carrying minerals, vitamins and hormones through the bloodstream. Albumin has also an important role in the regulation of the oncotic pressure in the vascular system. Besides, albumin has an antioxidant activity to protect the body from the free radicals.
Albumin comprises about 60% of the total serum proteins. The rest are globulin type proteins.
Albumin is made by the liver. The excess of albumin is filtered in the kidneys and excreted in the urine.
An albumin blood test has three main purposes:
This test is usually performed along with the total proteins and the globulins (alpha, beta and gamma globulins) in the blood for a better diagnosis.
A low level of albumin may be a sign of a liver disorder where the liver cannot create the albumin in a proper way. Another possible cause is a kidney disorder where the kidneys excrete too much albumin in the urine. A last possibility is malnutrition.
A high level of albumin is rare and it is not a help to diagnose any concrete disease. The main cause is dehydration, but there are other blood tests that give better information about this matter.
The albumin/globulin ratio must be greater than 1 because albumin should comprise about 60% of the total proteins.
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The following values are considered to be normal values:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in g/dl. They are an example of a healthy man of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
Albumin | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normality | |||||||
| 3.4 g/dL | 3.5 g/dL | 3.6 g/dL | 3.7 g/dL | 3.8 g/dL | 3.9 g/dL | 4 g/dL | 4.1 g/dL |
| 4.2 g/dL | 4.3 g/dL | 4.4 g/dL | 4.5 g/dL | 4.6 g/dL | 4.7 g/dL | 4.8 g/dL | 4.9 g/dL |
| 5 g/dL | 5.1 g/dL | 5.2 g/dL | 5.3 g/dL | 5.4 g/dL | |||
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