Total protein
Sum of all proteins in blood serum, mainly albumin and globulins
Also known as
Definition
Total protein measures the amount of all proteins in the fluid part of the blood. The largest share is albumin, made in the liver, which keeps fluid inside the blood vessels and transports substances. The rest are globulins, made partly by the liver and partly by the immune system. The value is often part of a metabolic panel and gives clues about the liver, kidneys and nutritional status. The albumin/globulin ratio (A/G ratio) is often reported as well.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Unit | g/l (g/dl) |
| Reference Range | Adults: about 65–81 g/l (6.5–8.1 g/dl). Labs differ; the reference range on your own report is what counts. Discuss deviations with your doctor. |
Agree on your personal target range with your doctor.
1 g/dl equals 10 g/l.
↓ What a low value means
Low total protein can be linked to liver disease, kidney disease in which protein is lost through the urine (such as nephrotic syndrome), malnutrition, or impaired absorption in the gut as in celiac disease or Crohn's disease. Bleeding, extensive burns or protein loss through the gut are further possibilities. Albumin, the A/G ratio or serum electrophoresis show which fraction is altered. Discuss deviations with your doctor.
↑ What a high value means
Elevated total protein can be linked to chronic inflammation or infections such as HIV or hepatitis B and C, and to conditions in which certain antibodies are overproduced, such as multiple myeloma or Waldenström disease. A markedly elevated albumin, for example with severe dehydration, also raises the value. Your doctor interprets the result together with other values.
When to test
Usually as part of a routine metabolic panel, and also with swelling in the legs or abdomen, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, yellowing of the skin or known liver and kidney disease. If the test is part of a larger panel, fasting may be required. Some medications affect the result; do not stop them without talking to your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the A/G ratio? +
It compares albumin with globulins. A low ratio can be linked to autoimmune diseases such as lupus, liver disease including cirrhosis, or kidney disease; a high ratio, for example, to certain genetic disorders or leukemia. It is always interpreted together with other values.
Does total protein show how much protein I eat? +
No. A low value can be linked to malnutrition, but just as well to liver, kidney or gut disease. The value is too unspecific to draw conclusions about daily protein intake.
What is serum electrophoresis? +
A complementary blood test that separates the proteins into albumin and four groups of globulins. It shows which fraction is altered when total protein or the A/G ratio stands out.
Total protein
Sources
Last updated: October 05, 2026
This information is for orientation only and does not replace medical advice. Reference ranges can vary by laboratory, method and country.