Skip to content

Private blood tests. No GP appointment needed.

Liver Health

Albumin

Serum Albumin

Albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood, produced exclusively by the liver. It serves multiple essential functions — maintaining oncotic pressure (keeping fluid within blood vessels), transporting hormones, fatty acids, drugs, and minerals throughout the body, and acting as a buffer to maintain blood pH.

Because the liver produces albumin continuously, low albumin (hypoalbuminaemia) is a sensitive marker of chronic liver disease or significant liver dysfunction. It also falls in conditions causing protein loss (nephrotic syndrome, protein-losing enteropathy) or reduced dietary protein intake. Albumin is an important component of liver function tests and is also used to calculate adjusted calcium levels.