Albumin Lab Values

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63 Must Know Lab Values (Cheat Sheet)

63 Must Know Lab Values (Book)

Albumin Lab Value (Picmonic)

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Outline

Overview

Albumin
1. Normal Value Range
2. Pathophysiology
3. Special Considerations
4. Too High: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
5. Too Low: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Nursing Points

General

Normal value range
1. 3.5 – 6.0 g/dL
Pathophysiology
1. Produced in the liver
2. Main protein of plasma
3. Responsible for maintaining oncotic pressure
  1. Draws fluid into blood vessel
  2. “Protein pulls”
  3. Refer to Fluid & Electrolytes lesson 01.02 Fluid Pressures
4. Transport protein
5. Serves as amino acid
6. Nutrition
  1. Poor indicator of nutrition
    1. Due to long half-life
  2. Pre-Albumin
    1. Better indicator of nutrition
Special considerations
1. Green top typically
2. Usually sent with several other labs
  1. Chemistries
  2. Liver function tests
  3. Nutritional labs
Elevated Albumin levels
1. Dehydration
2. Excess infusion of albumin
Decreased albumin levels
1. Liver disease
2. Fluid loss
  1. Fistula
  2. Hemorrhage
  3. Kidney Disease
  4. Burns
3. Congestive heart failure
4. Long term poor nutrition
  1. Inadequate intake
5. Inflammation

Assessment

Assess patient’s pre-albumin for nutritional status or indications of acute illness

Nursing Concepts

Lab Values
Nutrition

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Associated Lessons

Albumin Lab Values is mentioned in these lessons