![]() A low total protein level can suggest a liver disorder, a kidney disorder, or a disorder in which protein is not digested or absorbed properly.However, if results are abnormal, further testing is usually required to help diagnose the disease affecting protein levels in the blood. Results of a total protein test are usually considered along with those from other tests of the CMP and will give the healthcare practitioner information on a person's general health status with regard to nutrition and/or conditions involving major organs, such as the kidney and liver. Because disease states affect the relative amounts of albumin and globulin, the A/G ratio may provide a clue as to the cause of the change in protein levels. The A/G ratio is calculated from measured total protein, measured albumin, and calculated globulin (total protein - albumin). Some laboratories report total protein, albumin, and the calculated ratio of albumin to globulins, termed the A/G ratio. Some examples of follow-up tests include protein electrophoresis and quantitative immunoglobulins. If total protein is abnormal, further testing must be performed to identify which specific protein is abnormally low or high so that a specific diagnosis can be made. Sometimes conditions are detected with routine testing before symptoms appear. Total protein measurements can reflect nutritional status and may be used to screen for and help diagnose kidney diseaseor liver disease, for example. (For more information about proteins in the blood, see the "What is being tested?" section.) Total protein and albumin tests are routinely included in the panels of tests performed as part of a health examination, such as a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), so they are frequently used to help evaluate a person's overall health status.Īdditionally, since total protein can be low, increased, or the component globulin proteins altered with many different diseases and disorders, total protein and albumin tests may be ordered in a variety of settings to help diagnose disease, to monitor changes in health status, and as a screen that may indicate the need for various follow-up tests.
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