Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No special preparation is required.
- Turnaround: 3-5 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
What's Included
- Protein, Total: The combined concentration of albumin and globulins in your blood.
- Albumin: The main protein made by your liver, which helps balance fluid and transport substances.
- Alpha-1 Globulins: Proteins involved in inflammation and the body's response to tissue injury.
- Alpha-2 Globulins: Proteins involved in transporting substances and responding to inflammation.
- Beta-1 Globulins: A protein fraction containing transferrin, which transports iron.
- Beta-2 Globulins: A protein fraction containing complement proteins for immune defense and inflammation.
- Gamma Globulins: A protein fraction containing most circulating immunoglobulins (antibodies), which support immune defense.
- Electrophoresis Interpretation: A laboratory assessment of your protein distribution pattern, including identification of abnormal protein bands when present.
Benefits
- Measures total protein along with its separated albumin and globulin fractions.
- Shows how proteins in your blood are distributed across distinct fractions.
- Includes a laboratory interpretation of your protein pattern.
- Identifies abnormal protein bands when present.
- Covers protein fractions tied to inflammation, iron transport, and immune defense.
Who Is This Test For?
- You want to evaluate the total amount and distribution of proteins in your blood.
- You are looking into abnormal protein patterns linked to immune system or liver concerns.
- You want insight into protein patterns linked to kidney conditions.
- You are evaluating protein patterns associated with monoclonal gammopathies.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. Do I need to fast or prepare for this test?
No special preparation is required.
2. How quickly will I get results?
Results take 3-5 business days. They may take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
3. What can my results tell me?
Together, the panel pairs a total protein measurement with a breakdown of albumin and globulin fractions, plus a laboratory read of the overall pattern. That combination gives you a picture of both how much protein is circulating and how it is distributed, which may help your provider evaluate patterns associated with immune, liver, or kidney concerns.
4. How do the tests in this panel differ from one another?
Total protein is a single combined measurement of albumin and globulins. Albumin is the main liver-produced protein, while the globulin fractions (alpha-1, alpha-2, beta-1, beta-2, and gamma) each represent a different group of proteins, such as those tied to inflammation, iron transport, complement, or antibodies. The electrophoresis interpretation is a laboratory assessment of the pattern rather than a separate measurement.
5. How do I interpret the results?
Meaning comes from patterns across fractions rather than any single value, and your health history, symptoms, and medications all add context. Each fraction reflects a different kind of protein, so values will not necessarily move together. A qualified healthcare provider can interpret your results alongside your other findings.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
6. What should I do if my results are abnormal?
Start by sharing your report with a qualified healthcare provider, who can review it in context. One out-of-range value does not by itself point to a specific condition or call for treatment. Your provider can determine whether any further evaluation makes sense based on the overall pattern.
Pre-test preparation
No special preparation is required.
