Serum total protein

Serum total protein
Purposetest for measuring the total amount of protein in serum

Serum total protein, also known as total protein, is a clinical chemistry parameter representing the concentration of protein in serum.[1] Serum contains many proteins including serum albumin, a variety of globulins, and many others. While it is possible to analyze these proteins individually, total protein is a relatively quick and inexpensive analysis that does not discriminate by protein type.

The traditional method for measuring total protein uses the biuret reagent, but other chemical methods such as dye-binding and refractometry are now available. The measurement is usually performed on automated analysers along with other laboratory tests.[citation needed]

Interpretation

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The reference range for total protein is typically 60-80g/L. (It is also sometimes reported as "6.0-8.0g/dl"),[2] but this may vary depending on the method of analysis.

Reference ranges for blood tests, with total plasma protein (shown in purple at right) with other constituents.

References

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  1. ^ "What Is a Total Serum Protein Test?". WebMD.
  2. ^ "Harmonisation of Reference Intervals" (PDF). Pathology Harmony (UK). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
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