Total Protein and Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio
Reviewed
This test measures the total amount of protein in your blood and compares the amount of albumin to globulin (the A/G ratio). It helps check how well your liver and kidneys are working and whether you are lacking certain nutrients.
Preparation and collection
You may need to stop taking certain medicines before this test; tell your health care provider about everything you take. If this test is part of another blood test, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Results are not diagnostic on their own; they must be interpreted by a healthcare professional in the context of your symptoms, medical history, and other test results.
- Low albumin levels can be normal during pregnancy.
- The test does not specify the exact cause of abnormal protein levels; further testing may be needed.
- Certain medicines can affect test results; tell your provider about everything you take.
What to do next
If your results are not normal, your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other blood tests to understand the results. You may need additional tests, such as a separate albumin test or serum electrophoresis to measure different types of globulins. Talk to your provider about what your results mean and any recommended follow-up.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Total Protein and Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio