Protein Total Plasma test

What are the other names for this test?

Protein plasma test, Protein total test, Plasma protein test

What is a protein total plasma Test?

A protein total plasma test is a blood test that measures the number of proteins in your blood. Proteins are the significant parts of cells and tissues. Protein is present throughout your body, including muscles, bones, skin, and hair. This test helps to determine the total of two proteins. These include albumin and globulin.

Albumin - This protein helps to give amino acids and resist fluids from coming out of blood vessels. It helps in the growth of tissues and for healing.
Globulin - This protein is part of your immune system. Some of the globulin develops in your liver. Globulin fights against bacteria and infection. It also helps in blood clotting and other functions of your body.

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. It contains many blood components, such as water, salts, and enzymes throughout your body. The purpose of plasma is to provide nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the organs when needed. It also eliminates waste from your body.

High or low albumin and globulin levels may develop if you have medical problems, including kidney disease, liver disease, inflammation, or autoimmune disorder.

What is the purpose of this test?

A protein total plasma test indicates various diseases by observing the number of proteins in your blood. This test often performs with a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). Your provider may understand your overall health with a CMP test. You may also need this test to monitor your health conditions if you already have an infection or medical problems. This test helps to screen for liver, kidney, or blood disease.

When do I need this test?’

Your healthcare provider may recommend the protein total plasma test if you see symptoms of high or low total protein levels in your blood. Signs and symptoms of low protein levels include:
 

• Decreased clotting of blood due to an injury.
• Fatigue
• Bruising
• Losing hair
• Pain in the head
• Brittle nails
• Nausea
• Rashes

Symptoms of high protein levels
 

• Bone pain
• Losing weight
• Increased thirst
• Decreased appetite
• Numbness or sensation in your hands, legs, or feet
• Increased or repeated infections

Your doctor may ask for follow-up blood tests to monitor your protein levels in the blood. You can request an order for this test here if you have symptoms of high or low protein levels.

What is the method of this test?

You need to give an online order for a protein total plasma test. You can visit the laboratory you have selected. A healthcare professional will ask for a blood sample. The following steps for collecting blood samples include:
 

• You need to remove part of the cloth from one of your arms.
• A small needle will insert into a vein in your arm.
• Blood samples will be collected into a test tube.
• A bandage will apply to cover the area of your vein where the needle injects.
• Daily activity may resume after the test
• This test generally takes at least five minutes.

How do I get ready for this test?

A protein total plasma test does not need specific preparation. You can drink enough water before this test. If your provider asks for additional blood tests to see protein levels, you may need to fast for several hours. Your provider will guide you with special instructions.

What are the risks in this test?

This test does not carry high risks. You can experience slight pain or discomfort when the needle inserts into a vein in your arm. You can inform your doctor after providing your blood sample if you see these symptoms, such as
 

• Redness
• Inflammation or Infection
• Fluid discharge
• Bleeding (Hematoma)

What are the factors that may affect the test results?

Total protein levels may increase during pregnancy. Dehydration is another cause that may change your test results. You may need to inform your provider if you use medicines, vitamins, and supplements. Do not avoid the use of medication without the consent of your provider. Some medications, like birth control pills, may affect your test results.

What do the protein total plasma test results indicate?

The test results depend on age, gender, medical history, and other factors. You should make online contact with a healthcare provider to review protein total plasma test results.

The recommended range for protein levels is 6 to 8.3 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or 60 to 83 g/dL. Test results may slightly change among laboratories. It is because each lab may use different techniques or methods for measurements.

High total protein plasma levels link with:
 

• Chronic Infections, such as HIV and hepatitis
• Inflammation
• Disorder in the bone marrow (a soft tissue that is present in many blood vessels and in between most bones).

If you have a low total protein plasma level, it shows:
 

• Kidney or liver disease
• Malabsorption problem or difficulty absorbing nutrients.
• Bowel diseases
• Bleeding
• Nephrotic syndrome (a condition in which your body loses a large amount of protein in your urine).

A protein total plasma test may also check the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. The recommended values of A/G lie just above 1, having higher albumin than globulin. An abnormal albumin/globulin ratio may affect your protein levels.
Low A/G ratios link with very high amounts of globulin due to an autoimmune disease. High A/G ratios occur due to leukemia (a cancer of white blood cells) or bowel disorders.

What additional tests do I need to conduct along with this test?

Your provider may ask for additional tests by seeing your previous abnormal test results and your health conditions. This test does not tell the individual levels of these two proteins.
Your provider may recommend taking an individual blood test for albumin and globulins. The globulin blood test helps to measure four different types of globulins in your blood.