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Albumin
Test Code223
CPT Codes
82040
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum collected in a serum separator tube (SST®)
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Plasma collected in: sodium or lithium heparin (green-top) tube
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 6 months
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 6 months
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Anticoagulants other than heparin
Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)
Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 1-2 days
Reference Range
3.6-5.1 g/dL
Clinical Significance
Serum albumin measurements are used in the monitoring and treatment of numerous diseases involving primarily the liver and kidney. Its main value lies in the follow-up therapy where improvement in the serum albumin level is the best sign of successful medical treatment. There may also be a loss of albumin in the gastrointestinal tract, in the urine by the damaged kidney or direct loss of albumin through the skin. More than 50% of patients with gluten enteropathy have depressed albumin. The only cause of increased albumin is dehydration; there is no naturally occurring hyperalbuminemia.