Prealbumin Test

What is a prealbumin test?

Prealbumin is a particular kind of protein that is produced in the liver. Prealbumin is responsible for carrying thyroid hormones as well as Vitamin A through your bloodstream. Also, our body uses prealbumin for the purpose of making other proteins. A prealbumin test is performed for measuring the amount of prealbumin in an individual’s blood.

Lower than normal prealbumin level in the body can be a symptom of malnutrition. In other words, when the body doesn’t get enough nutrients, the prealbumin levels can significantly decrease. The prealbumin test helps the doctors know that the body of an individual is getting sufficient amounts of protein or not.

What can be the major cause of malnutrition in the body?

• Insufficient meal
• Consumption of lots of foods that are not nutritious enough
• Any health issue that causes problem for the body to absorb nutrients from food
• Elevated need for food after recovering from any surgery, any serious injury or cancer

Which conditions may cause low prealbumin levels in the body?

• Lack of zinc
• Malnutrition
• Chronic illness
• Hyperthyroidism
• Digestive issues
• Infection
• Liver disease
• Inflammation
• Cancer

Which conditions may cause high prealbumin levels in the body?

• Iron deficiency
• Kidney issues
• Pregnancy
• Hodgkin’s disease
• Hyperactive adrenal
• Alcoholism
• Steroids

Which people can be suggested to go for the test?

• The elderly ones can be suggested to go for the test if the doctors need to know that their body is getting sufficient amounts of nutrients or not.
• If you plan to go for a surgery, then the medical experts may suggest you to go for this test as it can help them know which types of nutritional support will be required for your body during the treatment.
• If you have an eating disorder then you can also be suggested to go for a prealbumin test.
• Children can be suggested to go for this test when it becomes necessary to check that they are malnourished or not.

When to go for this test?

When the major symptoms of malnutrition start to grow then the doctors may recommend you to go for this test to monitor and diagnose the issues with your nutritional health. Some of the most mentionable signs and symptoms of malnutrition may include

• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Dry skin
• Dizziness
• Aching joints
• Dry and brittle hair
• Feeling cold

Test preparations

You don’t need to take any preparations before appearing for a prealbumin test. However, it would be a wise decision if you have a discussion with the healthcare professionals to know if there are any other necessary guidelines to be followed. If you are pregnant or if you are already on medication, do not forget to mention it when you are appearing for the test. It is a fact that the prealbumin test price is really reasonable in almost every city of the country. You can easily get the facilities of a prealbumin test near me nowadays.

Sample requirements

A particular amount of blood will be collected from your vein by a pathology expert. Soon after the blood collection process is done, the sample will be collected to the laboratory. It does not take a huge amount of time to generate the test report soon after the test is done. So many people these days are availing the benefits of a prealbumin test at home.

Result interpretation

The normal range of prealbumin in adults is 15 mg/dL to 36 mg/dL and the normal range of prealbumin in infants should be 6 mg/dL to 21 mg/dL.

The normal range of prealbumin in children may vary based on the age of children.

• The normal range of prealbumin in children aged 1-5 years should be 14 mg/dL to 30 mg/dL.
• The normal range of prealbumin in children aged 6-9 years should be 15 mg/dL to 33 mg/dL.
• The normal range of prealbumin in children aged 10-13 years should be 22 mg/dL to 36 mg/dL.
• The normal range of prealbumin in children aged 14-19 years should be 22 mg/dL to 45 mg/dL.