Plasma
Adult patient:
Heparin gel tube
Minimum blood volume: 5 mL
Spot fluid:
Plain bottle
Minimum volume: 10 mL
Paediatric heparin tube
Number of vials: 1
Minimum blood volume: 1.3 mL
Authorisation code required
No
No
24 Hr available service
Yes
(Call extension: 3353 for express result)
No
Precaution
Avoid excessive use of tourniquet for sample collection.
Patient should be recumbent for at least 1 hour preceding specimen collection.
Method
Spectrophotometry
Reference interval
| Female: | 33 - 48 g/L |
| Male: | 33 - 48 g/L |
(Source: Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (AACB) Harmonised Reference Intervals for Adults (AHRIA). Adult Reference Intervals and Clinical Decision Limits, AACB Harmonisation Workshop July 2013)
Female during pregnancy:
| 13 - 20 weeks | 32 - 43 g/L |
| 21 - 28 weeks | 31 - 41 g/L |
| 29 - 34 weeks | 30 - 40 g/L |
| 35 - 42 weeks | 30 - 40 g/L |
| During active labour | 29 - 41 g/L |
| Day 1 postpartum | 26 - 38 g/L |
| 27 - 39 g/L |
(Source: Klajnbard A et al. Laboratory Reference Intervals during Pregnancy, Delivery and the Early Postpartum Period. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2010 Feb; 48(2): 237 - 48.)
Clinical indication
Assessment of hydration, nutritional status, protein-losing disorders and liver disease
Result interpretation
Decreased levels may be associated with over-hydration, chronic liver disease, protein losing disorders (e.g. nephrotic syndrome, protein-losing enteropathy), malnutrition, and shifts into the extravascular space (e.g. burns).
Decreased levels may also be seen as part of an acute phase response.
Increased levels may be seen with dehydration.
Increases above the true level may occur with excessive use of tourniquet for sample collection.
Erect posture causes a redistribution of body fluids, increasing the plasma albumin concentration.
Measurement of uncertainty
Frequency of measurement
Daily