A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

Total Protein + Albumin

Albumin, globulin, and their ratio, from one blood draw.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 2 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

This test measures total protein and albumin, then calculates globulin and the albumin to globulin (A/G) ratio. Albumin, made by the liver, is the main protein in blood, and globulins include antibodies. The split adds detail that a total protein number alone does not show. No fasting is needed.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is for adults whose healthcare provider wants a closer look at blood proteins, often with liver questions, swelling, immune protein questions, or a past result.

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your results show your total protein, albumin, globulin, and A/G ratio, which can help a healthcare provider see how your blood proteins are balanced and what to look at next.

Total protein
Total protein measures the two main groups of protein in your blood: albumin and globulins. These proteins carry substances through the body, help keep fluid inside blood vessels, and support the immune system. The total can shift with liver or kidney function, hydration, and inflammation.
Why it’s measured: A broad look at blood proteins made by the liver and immune system.
Albumin
Albumin is the main protein your liver makes. It helps keep fluid inside your blood vessels and carries hormones, vitamins, medicines, and minerals such as calcium through your blood. Levels can change with liver or kidney conditions, hydration, and longer-term illness.
Why it’s measured: Reflects liver protein production and fluid balance in the blood.
Globulin (calculated)
Globulins are a group of blood proteins that includes many of the antibodies your immune system makes, along with proteins that carry other substances. The lab calculates globulin by subtracting albumin from total protein, rather than measuring it on its own.
Why it’s measured: Adds context on the proteins in your blood other than albumin, including many antibodies.
Albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio
The A/G ratio compares your albumin result with your globulin result. The lab calculates it from the other two numbers. It does not point to a specific condition, but a provider may use it alongside your other protein and liver results to decide whether anything needs a closer look.
Why it’s measured: A calculated comparison that adds context to your protein results.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 2 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

Total protein, albumin, and globulin are reported in grams per deciliter (g/dL), and the A/G ratio as a number, each compared with the lab’s range.

  • Each marker next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

A shift in the A/G ratio is not specific to one condition, so a healthcare provider reads it with your other results and history.

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

Globulins are a large group of blood proteins. They include antibodies, which help fight infection, and proteins that carry substances such as hormones, fats, and minerals. Globulin is not measured directly in this test; it is calculated by subtracting albumin from total protein.

The A/G ratio compares albumin with globulins. It can fall when albumin is low or when globulins are high, and it is not a specific marker for any disease because it does not show which proteins changed. It is a clue that a healthcare provider may follow up with other tests.

Globulins can rise with some long-⁠lasting inflammatory and immune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and can be lower with liver or kidney conditions. These are possibilities, not conclusions, and a healthcare provider reads them with your history.

No. Albumin and total protein are part of a liver panel, but this test does not include liver enzymes or bilirubin. If liver health is the question, the Liver Function Panel adds those markers in the same kind of draw.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.