Protein, Total - Serum – BC261
🧪 Nutritional & Organ Health
₹3399
MRP ₹3500
Sample Time: 4:30 PM
Report: Next day Evening (Except Sunday)
Sample Type: Blood (Serum)
Test Code: BC261
Report: Next day Evening (Except Sunday)
Sample Type: Blood (Serum)
Test Code: BC261
About this Test:
The Serum Total Protein test is a fundamental blood test that measures the total amount of two major classes of proteins in your blood: Albumin and Globulin. These proteins are essential for numerous bodily functions, and their levels can provide important clues about your overall health.
✔ A key component of the Liver Function Test (LFT) and comprehensive metabolic panels.
✔ Helps in assessing your nutritional status.
✔ Can indicate potential issues with the liver or kidneys.
✔ Fasting is generally recommended for this test.
The Serum Total Protein test is a fundamental blood test that measures the total amount of two major classes of proteins in your blood: Albumin and Globulin. These proteins are essential for numerous bodily functions, and their levels can provide important clues about your overall health.
✔ A key component of the Liver Function Test (LFT) and comprehensive metabolic panels.
✔ Helps in assessing your nutritional status.
✔ Can indicate potential issues with the liver or kidneys.
✔ Fasting is generally recommended for this test.
The Two Pillars of Blood Protein: Albumin and Globulin
The "Total Protein" value is the sum of two critical types of protein, each with a distinct job:
- Albumin: This is the most abundant protein in your plasma, making up about 60% of the total. It is produced in the liver. Its primary role is to maintain oncotic pressure, which keeps fluid from leaking out of your blood vessels into surrounding tissues. It also acts as a transport protein, carrying hormones, vitamins, and enzymes throughout your body.
- Globulin: This group makes up the remaining 40% and consists of many different proteins, categorized into alpha, beta, and gamma globulins. Their main functions are related to the immune system (gamma globulins are your antibodies), transport of substances, and clotting.
The Importance of the Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio
A Total Protein test is almost always reported with the individual Albumin and Globulin levels, along with the calculated **A/G Ratio**. Sometimes, the total protein level can be normal, but the ratio of albumin to globulin can be abnormal, pointing to a specific problem. For example, in liver disease, albumin production might fall while the body produces more globulins to fight inflammation, altering the A/G ratio even if the total protein is unchanged.
Interpreting the Results
Your doctor will interpret the total protein level and A/G ratio to investigate various conditions:
- Low Total Protein: Can suggest liver disease (impaired production), kidney disease (protein loss through urine), severe malnutrition, or malabsorption disorders.
- High Total Protein: Can be seen in conditions of chronic inflammation or infection (as the body produces more globulins/antibodies) or in certain blood cancers like multiple myeloma, which produce a large amount of a single abnormal protein.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What does the Total Protein test measure?
The test measures the combined amount of albumin and globulin proteins in the liquid portion (serum) of your blood. It provides a general overview of your nutritional state and the health of your liver and kidneys.
The test measures the combined amount of albumin and globulin proteins in the liquid portion (serum) of your blood. It provides a general overview of your nutritional state and the health of your liver and kidneys.
Q2: Why is the Albumin/Globulin (A/G) ratio also important?
The A/G ratio can provide more specific clues than the total protein level alone. An abnormal ratio can help your doctor pinpoint whether a problem is related to the underproduction of albumin (like in liver disease) or the overproduction of globulins (like in chronic inflammation or multiple myeloma).
The A/G ratio can provide more specific clues than the total protein level alone. An abnormal ratio can help your doctor pinpoint whether a problem is related to the underproduction of albumin (like in liver disease) or the overproduction of globulins (like in chronic inflammation or multiple myeloma).
Q3: What can cause low total protein?
Low levels can be a sign of several conditions, including severe liver disease (since the liver makes albumin), kidney disorders that cause protein to leak into the urine (nephrotic syndrome), or malnutrition where you are not consuming enough protein.
Low levels can be a sign of several conditions, including severe liver disease (since the liver makes albumin), kidney disorders that cause protein to leak into the urine (nephrotic syndrome), or malnutrition where you are not consuming enough protein.
Q4: Do I need to fast before this test?
Yes, fasting for 8-12 hours is generally recommended. Since this test is often part of a larger panel like a Liver Function Test (LFT) that includes other tests sensitive to food intake, fasting ensures the accuracy of the entire panel.
Yes, fasting for 8-12 hours is generally recommended. Since this test is often part of a larger panel like a Liver Function Test (LFT) that includes other tests sensitive to food intake, fasting ensures the accuracy of the entire panel.