Proteins


  • Serum

  • Total protein
    1. Adult: 6.4-8.3 g/dl
    2. Child ( > 3 years): 6.0-8.0 g/dl
  • Albumin
    1. Adult (18-60 years): 3.5-5.0 g/dl
    2. Child: 3.2-5.4 g/dl
  • Globulin: 2.8-4.4 g/dl
  • Albumin/globulin ratio: > 1


  • Serum albumin is useful in the evaluation of nutritional status, oncotic pressure within the vasculature, and the effects of renal and other chronic diseases
  • Abnormal values of globulin indicate the need for specific testing by serum protein electrophoresis.
  • A low A/G ratio demonstrates the severity and progression of the disease and indicates the need for specific additional data from serum protein electrophoresis


  • Total protein
    1. Dehydration
    2. Hyperimmunoglobulinemia
    3. Polyclonal or monoclonal gammapathies
  • Albumin

- Dehydration

  • Globulin
    1. Inflammatory conditions
    2. Multiple myeloma
    3. Collagen diseases
    4. Sarcoidosis
    5. Cirrhosis
    6. Chronic or active hepatitis


  • Total protein
    1. Crohn's disease
    2. Ulcerative colitis
    3. Intestinal fistula
    4. Acute thermal injury
    5. Nephrotic syndrome
    6. Severe protein deficiency
    7. Chronic liver disease
    8. Malabsorption syndrome
  • Albumin
    1. Rapid intravenous hydration
    2. Malnutrition
    3. Cirrhosis
    4. Cancer
    5. Nephrotic syndrome
    6. Crohn's disease
    7. Ulcerative colitis
    8. Severe thermal injury
    9. Gastrointestinal fistula
    10. Collagen diseases
    11. Infection
    12. Fever
  • Globulin
    1. Agammaglobulinemia
    2. Protein-losing enteropathies
    3. Lymphoma
    4. Multiple myeloma
  • A/G ratio
    1. Cirrhosis
    2. Sarcoidosis
    3. Chronic kidney disease
    4. Severe infection
    5. Cachexia
    6. Sarcoidosis
    7. Multiple myeloma
    8. Severe thermal injury

  • Hemolysis
  • Prolonged bed rest
  • Massive intravenous infusion
  • Venous stasis
  • Peripheral vascular collapse
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Hyperbilirubinemia