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PreAlbumin
Test CodePALB
Alias/See Also
PAB
CPT Codes
84134
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL serum collected in a SST (serum seprator-gold top tube)
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Transport Temperature
Refirgerated
Specimen Stability
Room Temperature: Not Specified
Refrigerated: 3 days at 2-8°C
Frozen: 6 months at -20 °C. Freeze only once.
Refrigerated: 3 days at 2-8°C
Frozen: 6 months at -20 °C. Freeze only once.
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Samples not labeled with complete first and last name of patient and date of birth.
Plasma samples.
Grossly hemolyzed, lipemic or ictaric.
Methodology
Immunoturbidimetric.
Setup Schedule
Sun-Sat
Report Available
Sane day
Reference Range
17 – 34 mg/dL
Clinical Significance
Prealbumin is a tryptophan-rich protein which is synthesized in hepatocytes and has a molar mass of
55000 daltons. At a pH of 8.6, an electrophoretic band appears prior to albumin in a relative amount of < 2.5 % due to its greater rate of diffusion to the anode. Its function is to bind and transport low molecular weight retinol-binding proteins (molar mass of less than 21000 daltons), preventing their glomerular filtration. 30-50 % of circulating prealbumin is complexed by retinol-binding protein. Furthermore, it binds and transports thyroxine (T4), nevertheless its affinity to this hormone is less than that of thyroxine-binding globulin.
Prealbumin has a short half-life of approximately 2 days. Accordingly, decreased hepatocellular synthesis caused by acute liver damage or dietary protein deficiency elicits a very rapid decrease in serum prealbumin levels. According to the literature, prealbumin can act as a negative acute phase reactant, with its concentration decreasing rapidly during inflammatory processes.
55000 daltons. At a pH of 8.6, an electrophoretic band appears prior to albumin in a relative amount of < 2.5 % due to its greater rate of diffusion to the anode. Its function is to bind and transport low molecular weight retinol-binding proteins (molar mass of less than 21000 daltons), preventing their glomerular filtration. 30-50 % of circulating prealbumin is complexed by retinol-binding protein. Furthermore, it binds and transports thyroxine (T4), nevertheless its affinity to this hormone is less than that of thyroxine-binding globulin.
Prealbumin has a short half-life of approximately 2 days. Accordingly, decreased hepatocellular synthesis caused by acute liver damage or dietary protein deficiency elicits a very rapid decrease in serum prealbumin levels. According to the literature, prealbumin can act as a negative acute phase reactant, with its concentration decreasing rapidly during inflammatory processes.
Performing Laboratory
Frederick Health Laboratory
400 W 7th Street
Frederick, MD 20701
Last Updated: November 28, 2023
