Albumin

Test Code

31190

CPT Codes
82040<br /> ***Restricted use*** This code is available for client #58705 only.

Preferred Specimen

1 mL serum collected in a serum separator (red-top) tube (SST®)

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Plasma collected in a sodium heparin or lithium heparin (green-top) tube

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 30 days
Frozen: 6 months

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Hemolysis • Anticoagulants other than heparin

Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)

Setup Schedule

A.M. Sets up 3 days a week.

Report Available

Reports in 2 to 5 days.

Clinical Significance

Serum albumin measurements are used in the monitoring and treatment of numerous diseases involving those related to nutrition and pathology particularly in the liver and kidney. Serum albumin is valuable when following response to therapy where improvement in the serum albumin level is the best sign of successful medical treatment. There may be a loss of albumin in the gastrointestinal tract, in the urine secondary to renal damage 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

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.