Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Fluid Albumin
Fluid Albumin
Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or White topped universal (no additives)
| Test | Fluid Albumin |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | FLALB |
| Profile | NA |
| Tube type | Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or White topped universal (no additives) |
| Clinical Indication | Measurement of albumin in ascitic fluid allows calculation of the serum ascitic-albumin gradient. A gradient >11 distinguishes ascites caused by portal hypertension from other causes. |
| Specimen Type | Fluid |
| Sample type | Fluid |
| Minimum Volume | 1 mL |
| Special Precautions | Please visually inspect samples before sending for analysis and indicate the site of collection. Samples which are very turbid or thick may be rejected as there is a risk of damage to laboratory equipment |
| Stability | No specific data available. Analysis within 24h of collection is recommended to minimise the possibility of sample degradation. Store at 2-8oC |
| Turnaround Time | Inpatient: 6 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours |
| Laboratory | York and Scarborough |
| Reference Interval | No specific reference ranges are avaiable for fluid samples. Interpret result in light of serum albumin concentration. Note that a paired serum sample must be sent for albumin in order to calculate the ascitic-albumin gradient. For the interpretation of results please refer to http://www.acbi.ie/downloads/guidelines-of-body-fluids.pdf |
| Limitations | Fluid composition tends to be very variable, and the exact mixture of components in a fluid sample can have unpredictable effects on measurement of any one analyte. Our laboratory methods are NOT CE-marked or validated for analysis of fluids, and no specific quality control materials are available. ALL results must be interpreted with caution. |
| Notes |
