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Liver health

Albumin

Also known as: Serum albumin test, ALB, Total protein — albumin fraction, Plasma albumin

An albumin test measures the level of albumin — a major protein made by the liver — in your blood. Albumin helps keep fluid inside your blood vessels, preventing swelling in your tissues, and also transports vital substances like hormones, fatty acids, and medications throughout the body. Because it plays such a key role in maintaining fluid balance and in nutrient transport, your albumin level offers valuable insight into your overall health.

Low albumin levels may occur with liver or kidney disease, inflammation, or poor nutrition. High levels could be a sign of dehydration.

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Key takeaways

  • Sample required: Blood (serum)

  • Tests for: Helps assess liver function, nutritional status, inflammation, and conditions that cause protein loss (such as kidney disease)

  • Healthy range: Approximately 3.6 to 5.1 grams per deciliter (g/dL) (may vary by lab)

What can an albumin test tell you?

A serum albumin test can help evaluate:

  • Liver function. Because the liver makes albumin, low levels may suggest liver inflammation, injury, or chronic liver disease.

  • Nutritional status. Albumin reflects how well your body is getting and using protein. Low levels can occur with malnutrition or chronic illness. In conditions like untreated celiac disease, low albumin may appear due to poor nutrient absorption. 

  • Inflammation or infection. Albumin can drop during periods of systemic inflammation, infection, or trauma.

  • Kidney function. If the kidneys are leaking protein (which happens with nephrotic syndrome or other kidney disease), albumin levels in the blood may fall, and albumin can often be detected in the urine first.

  • Fluid balance and chronic illness. Albumin helps maintain oncotic pressure — the “pull” that keeps fluid in your blood vessels — so changes can contribute to swelling (edema).

While this test doesn’t diagnose a specific condition, it can provide important clues about your overall health. Providers often interpret albumin alongside other labs such as total protein, liver enzymes (ALT, AST), bilirubin, and kidney function tests (BUN and creatinine).

What is being tested?

Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein in your blood (representing half of the total protein), produced almost entirely by the liver. It has three key functions:

  • Maintaining oncotic pressure. Albumin prevents fluid from leaking out of your blood vessels into tissues.

  • Transporting substances. It binds and carries hormones, fatty acids, drugs, and electrolytes (like calcium) throughout your body.

  • Reflecting metabolic health. Because it changes in response to liver function, inflammation, and nutritional intake (particularly protein), it’s an indirect marker of your body’s overall metabolic and inflammatory status.

When albumin levels fall, fluid can shift into surrounding tissues — causing swelling in the legs, abdomen, or face. When levels are high, dehydration is often the cause.

Who should get an albumin test?

Albumin is part of many routine checkups, but a healthcare provider may recommend this as a standalone test if you have risk factors or symptoms such as:

  • Signs of liver disease (jaundice, fatigue, abdominal swelling, dark urine)

  • Signs of kidney disease (swelling in the legs or around the eyes, foamy urine)

  • Symptoms of malnutrition (unintended weight loss, muscle loss, poor appetite)

  • Chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, or inflammatory bowel disease, which can affect albumin production or loss

  • Prolonged infections, trauma, or recovery from surgery

Albumin may also be monitored regularly in people with known liver cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, or long-term inflammatory conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

How Labs by Hers works

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    Review your lab results to understand which areas of your health may need attention.

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Not available in all 50 states. Eligibility and provider order required. Lab results alone are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. A provider will reach out about critical results and plans include access to 24/7 provider messaging.

Images for illustrative purposes only.

Frequently asked questions

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What causes changes in albumin levels?

Albumin levels can fluctuate due to a variety of physiological and medical factors. 

Low albumin levels (hypoalbuminemia) may occur with liver disease (such as hepatitis or cirrhosis), kidney disease that causes protein loss in the urine, chronic inflammation or infection, malnutrition, or conditions that result in protein loss through the gut (protein-losing enteropathy). Burns, major surgery, trauma, heart failure, and sepsis can also contribute to decreased albumin levels by disrupting the body’s ability to produce or retain protein. Also, blood volume changes during pregnancy can lead to lower albumin levels.

High albumin levels, or hyperalbuminemia, are much less common and typically indicate dehydration or fluid loss, which can concentrate the amount of albumin in the blood. In rare cases, certain medications or high-protein supplementation may cause a mild increase. Because albumin plays a key role in maintaining fluid balance and transporting hormones, vitamins, and drugs throughout the body, even small changes in its level can offer important clues about overall health and hydration status.

What is the typical reference range for albumin?

Normal albumin levels are typically 3.6 to 5.1 g/dL, though exact ranges vary by laboratory.

Can this test be done at home?

Some at-home lab kits include albumin testing as part of a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). Follow-up labs are often needed for verification.

Is fasting required?

No, fasting is generally needed for a serum albumin test. However, if your test is part of a larger panel that includes glucose or lipid testing, your provider may recommend fasting beforehand.

How long do results take?

Most labs return albumin results within 24 to 48 hours. If ordered as part of a CMP, your provider may discuss them during the same follow-up review.

How often should I get tested?

Albumin may be measured during a routine annual physical or when monitoring chronic conditions. People with liver, kidney, or inflammatory diseases may need more frequent testing, as determined by their provider.

Does insurance cover albumin testing?

Yes. Because albumin is part of standard lab panels like CMP or liver function tests (LFTs), it’s usually covered by insurance when ordered for screening or diagnostic purposes. However, insurance is not required for lab testing available through the Hers platform.

Does coffee affect albumin levels?

Evidence on how coffee or tea affects albumin levels is limited and inconsistent. Small studies suggest possible effects on liver enzymes or protein binding, but there’s no strong evidence that typical coffee or tea intake meaningfully changes albumin levels in healthy adults.

What tests are related to this biomarker?

• Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)

• Liver function tests (LFTs)

• Total protein test

• Prealbumin (Transthyretin) – another marker of short-term nutritional status

• Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (ACR) – measures albumin loss in urine, often used to detect kidney damage

The information provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health concerns.

Related biomarkers

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Alanine Transaminase (ALT)

Alanine transaminase (ALT) is an enzyme found in liver cells that helps process amino acids. This enzyme is a key marker that shows if your liver cells are healthy and working normally.

Learn more about Alanine Transaminase (ALT)

Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme in the liver and muscles that helps to process amino acids. Healthy levels mean your liver and muscles are not under stress or injured.

Learn more about Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme that reflects bile flow and liver function. A healthy level indicates proper bone metabolism and that your liver and gallbladder are functioning without signs of stress.

Learn more about Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

Total Bilirubin

Bilirubin is a waste product made when old red blood cells break down. Your liver helps remove bilirubin from your blood, so normal levels usually mean your liver is clearing waste efficiently.

Learn more about Total Bilirubin

Total Protein

Total protein measures the combined levels of albumin and globulin proteins that support fluid balance, hormone and drug transport, and the immune system. Healthy levels mean that your body is currently maintaining a good balance of these important proteins.

Learn more about Total Protein

Globulin

Globulins are a group of proteins in your blood that include antibodies, which help your body fight infection, and other proteins that carry hormones and nutrients. Healthy levels suggest your immune system and liver are working well.

Learn more about Globulin

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Reviewed by Felix Gussone, MD

Published 12/04/2025