Liver function (LFTs)
Albumin blood test: what a high or low result means
What an albumin blood test measures, what low albumin can mean, and what to ask your doctor.
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Explain my results → Available on web, iOS & Android.What is albumin?
Albumin is the main protein in your blood. It is made by the liver and helps keep fluid inside your blood vessels and carry substances such as calcium, hormones and medicines around the body. Albumin is part of the liver function tests (LFTs) and a metabolic panel in the US. It reflects your general health and nutrition as well as liver function.
Why is this test done?
- As part of liver function tests
- To check nutrition or general health in someone who is unwell
- To investigate swelling of the legs or abdomen
- To help interpret calcium results
What does a high albumin mean?
A high albumin is uncommon and is usually caused by dehydration.
Possible reasons include:
- Dehydration
- A tourniquet left on for a long time when the blood was taken
What does a low albumin mean?
A low albumin is common in people who are unwell and has many possible causes.
Possible reasons include:
- Acute illness, infection or inflammation
- Liver disease, which reduces albumin production
- Kidney disease that lets protein leak into the urine
- Malnutrition or problems absorbing food
- Late pregnancy
- Some bowel conditions that cause protein loss
Why we don't list a "normal range". Reference ranges differ between laboratories and can depend on your age, sex and whether you are pregnant. The range printed next to your result on your own report is the one that applies to you, so use that, and talk to your doctor about what your result means for you.
What can affect your albumin result?
- Hydration
- Recent illness or surgery
- Pregnancy
- Posture and how the blood was taken
Make sense of the whole report, not just one line
Results are easier to understand together. Patiently AI explains your report as a whole and writes personalised questions for your next appointment.
Try it with your own results → Paste, upload or photograph your results.Questions to ask your doctor
- What is causing my low albumin?
- Should my urine be checked for protein?
- Do I need to change my diet or see a dietitian?
- Does my low albumin affect any of my other results, such as calcium?
Frequently asked questions
Does low albumin mean I am not eating enough protein?
Sometimes, but often not. Illness and inflammation are common causes, and liver or kidney problems can lower albumin too. Eating more protein will not fix low albumin caused by these conditions.
Why does albumin matter for calcium?
Albumin carries calcium in the blood. If albumin is low, the total calcium result can look low even when the active calcium is normal, which is why labs report adjusted calcium.
Is albumin a liver test or a kidney test?
Both, in a way. It is made by the liver, so it is in the liver function tests, but kidney disease can let albumin leak into the urine, which is checked with the urine ACR test.
Can Patiently AI explain my albumin result?
Yes. Paste your results, or upload a photo, PDF or Word file, and Patiently AI explains them in plain English, sticking to the numbers and ranges on your own report rather than adding its own, and suggests questions to ask your doctor. It is free, needs no account, and removes identifying details on your device first.