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HelpTest Code ALB Albumin
Useful For
It is a marker of disorders of protein metabolism related to nutritional status, decreased synthesis and increased loss.
Specimen Requirements
| Fasting Required | Specimen Type | Preferred Container/Tube | Acceptable Container/Tube | Specimen Volume | Specimen Minimum Volume (allows for 1 repeat) |
Pediatric Minimum Volume (no repeat) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Plasma/Serum |
Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator Tube (PST), Serum Separator Tube (SST) |
Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top Tube (GTT), Red Top Tube (RTT) | 1 mL | 0.5 mL | 0.1 mL |
Collection/Processing Instructions
Separate plasma or serum from the blood within 60 minutes of venipuncture.
Venostasis should be avoided when collecting samples since hemoconcentration increases the apparent concentrations of albumin and other plasma proteins.
Samples collected in gel barrier tubes must be removed from primary tubes prior to transporting to Marshfield.
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Plasma/Serum | Ambient | 72 hours |
| Refrigerate | 1 month | |
| Frozen at -20 deg Celsius | 6 months |
Rejection Criteria
Plasma in anticoagulant other than those stated above
Interpretations
Albumin plays an important role in the maintenance of the colloid osmotic pressure of the blood, and in transport of various ions, acids, and hormones, and in nutrition. Hypoalbuminemia is caused by several factors: impaired synthesis either due to liver disease (primary) or due to diminished protein intake (secondary); increased catabolism as a result of tissue damage and inflammation; malabsorption of amino acids; or increased renal excretion (e.g., nephrotic syndrome).
When albumin levels are decreased to about 2.0g/dL, edema is often observed because of the consequent decrease of colloid osmotic pressure.
Hyperalbuminemia is of little diagnostic significance except in the case of dehydration.
Reference Range Information
| Performing Location | Reference Range |
|---|---|
| All Performing Sites using Dimension Analyzers | 0 - 12 months: 2.4 - 4.6 g/dL ≥ 13 months: 3.3 - 5.0 g/dL |
| All Performing Sites using Beckman AU Analyzers | 0-14 days: 2.9-4.4 g/dL 15 days-<1 yr: 2.6-4.9 g/dL 1-<8 yr: 3.7-4.8 g/dL 8-<15 yr: 3.9-5.0 g/dL Female: ≥15 yr: 3.7-5.2 g/dL Male: ≥15 yr: 4.0-5.4 g/dL |
| Albumin reference intervals are method- specific. Albumin values determined by the dye-binding methods (bromcresol green/bromcresol purple) may not be identical to the albumin values determined by protein electrophoresis. | |
Marshfield Labs Performing Department
Marshfield Labs Chemistry
Performing Information
| Performing Location | Day(s) Test Performed | Analytical Time | Methodology/Instrumentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam | Monday through Friday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Chippewa Falls | Monday through Friday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Weston | Monday through Sunday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Eau Claire | Monday through Sunday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Park Falls | Monday through Sunday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Ladysmith | Monday through Sunday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Rice Lake | Monday through Sunday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Marshfield | Monday through Sunday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Minocqua | Monday through Sunday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Neillsville | Monday through Sunday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Stevens Point | Monday through Friday | Less than 2 hours | Bromcresol Green (BCG) dye binding indicator endpoint assay/Beckman AU |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Monday through Friday | Less than 2 hours | Spectrophotometric/Bromocresol Purple (BCP)/Siemens Dimension |
CPT Codes
| CPT | Modifier (if needed) |
Quantity | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82040 | 1 |
Outreach CPT Codes
| CPT | Modifier (if needed) |
Quantity | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82040 | 1 |
Ordering Applications
| Ordering Application | Description |
|---|---|
| Cerner | Albumin Level |