What is the Purpose of Albumin Blood Test and When is it Needed?

The rightly said proverb ‘Health is wealth’ stood even more righteous during the unprecedented times of the disastrous Covid-19 pandemic where nothing else mattered to people than their health and those of their loved ones. According to several reports, the pandemic had compelled many to fall prey to depression, anxiety, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Working for 8 hours in a confined space for 2 years took a toll not only on people’s mental health but also damaged their fitness and good physical health. People switched to binge-watching Netflix and gorged on oily and fried snacks most of the time, thus cutting their daily protein intake. This led to low albumin levels in the blood and worsened their health amid the pandemic stress. Due to scenarios like these, the number of patients taking albumin blood tests increased rapidly. In fact, the global albumin market is expected to generate a revenue of $8,129.1 million and grow at 10.1% CAGR during the 2021-2028 forecast timeframe, states Research Dive’s detailed published report.

What is Albumin and Why is it Important?

Albumin is a protein found in the blood plasma of animals and humans. Albumin is essential for the maintenance of appropriate osmotic pressure, neutralization of free radicals, and transporting substances like drugs, hormones, enzymes, vitamins, etc. throughout the body. Hypoalbuminemia, or the deficit of albumin in human blood, can cause several acute and chronic disorders along with liver disease or kidney disease. In addition, low albumin levels can also result in inflammation and infections whereas high albumin levels can cause diarrhea and dehydration.

When is Albumin Blood Test Needed?

An albumin test is a liver function test and one might need to take this test in case of symptoms like kidney disease or liver disease. Below are some common symptoms of kidney disease:

• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes in urine (bloody, dark, or foamy)
• Frequent urination, especially at night
• Weakness and muscle cramps
• Swelling in the face, ankles, or feet

Some common symptoms of liver disease are as follows:

• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Stool changes (pale-colored)
• Bruises
• Loss of appetite
• Sudden unexplained weight loss
• Swelling in legs or belly
• Jaundice

What is Human Albumin Infusion and What are its Side-Effects?

Human albumin infusion refers to the treatment of blood volume loss wherein body fluids are replaced that are mostly lost due to bleeding, surgery, kidney dialysis, or excessive trauma. Human albumin infusion is therefore helpful in treating low albumin levels in our blood. Furthermore, this treatment helps the patient by preventing dehydration and electrolyte disorders after any trauma. In addition, fluid replacement is also essential to restore normal brain activity, promote healing, and speed up the recovery process.

Some most common side-effects of human albumin infusion are:

• Chills
• Nausea
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Slow heart rate
• Flushing

Bottom Line

Albumin blood tests are essential to check if the blood consists of appropriate levels of albumin protein after a serious trauma or surgery. While lower albumin levels might cause problems for your liver and kidney, higher albumin levels might result in severe dehydration. Moreover, you might also be prescribed human albumin infusion treatment that replaces the body fluids generally lost due to excessive bleeding, kidney dialysis, or excessive trauma.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.