Protein, Total

Test ID: 

703112

CPT code:

84155

Clinical Use:

Evaluate nutritional status; investigate edema.

In the entities which follow, the diseases listed are sometimes increased or decreased as indicated, but are not always so.

Causes of high total protein: dehydration; some cases of chronic liver disease, including chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis; neoplasms, especially myeloma; macroglobulinemia of Waldenström; tropical diseases (eg, kala-azar, leprosy, and others); granulomatous diseases, such as sarcoidosis; diseases in which total protein is sometimes high include collagen disease (eg, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and other instances of chronic infection/inflammation).

Causes of low total protein: pregnancy; intravenous fluids; cirrhosis or other liver disease, including chronic alcoholism; prolonged immobilization; heart failure; nephrotic syndromes; glomerulonephritis; neoplasia; protein losing enteropathies; Crohn’s disease and chronic ulcerative colitis; starvation, malabsorption or malnutrition; hyperthyroidism; burns; severe skin disease; and other chronic diseases.

Very low total protein (<4 g/dL) and low albumin cause edema (eg, the nephrotic syndromes).

Specimen Type:

Serum (preferred) or plasma

Requested Volume: 

0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 

1 mL

Container Type: 

Gel-barrier tube, transport tube, green-top (heparin) tube, or lavender-top (EDTA) tube

Collection:

Separate serum or plasma from cells within four hours of collection.

Storage Instructions:

Maintain specimen at room temperature.

Rejection Criteria:

Hemolysis; improper labeling