Albumin
Also known as: Serum albumin
Albumin is the most abundant protein in your blood. It is made by the liver and helps maintain fluid balance and carry substances around your body.
Why it's measured
Albumin appears on liver and metabolic panels and gives doctors information about nutrition, liver and kidney function, and fluid status, always read alongside other tests.
Typical range
Reference ranges vary by lab. Because many factors influence albumin, including hydration and inflammation, your doctor interprets it together with the rest of your results.
What high values can mean
A higher albumin is often related to hydration status and is usually interpreted in context rather than as a diagnosis.
What low values can mean
A lower albumin can relate to nutrition, inflammation, or liver and kidney function, and is one of several values your doctor weighs together.
Questions to ask your doctor
- What does my albumin add to the rest of my panel?
- Could hydration have affected this result?
- Is any follow-up useful here?
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Try the explainerEducational information only — not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reference ranges vary by lab; always use your own lab's range and discuss results with a qualified clinician.