What does high total protein mean in a blood test?

What does high total protein mean in a blood test?

High total protein: Too much protein in your blood can be a sign of chronic infection or inflammation (like HIV/AIDS or viral hepatitis). It can also be an early sign of a bone marrow disorder. Low A/G ratio: This might be the sign an autoimmune disorder, where your body’s immune system attacks healthy cells.

What is protein total and protein electrophoresis test?

Serum protein electrophoresis uses an electrical field to separate the proteins in the blood serum into groups of similar size, shape, and charge. The total protein test measures the total amount of two classes of proteins found in the fluid portion of your blood.

What diseases does serum protein electrophoresis test for?

Serum protein electrophoresis is used to identify patients with multiple myeloma and other serum protein disorders. Electrophoresis separates proteins based on their physical properties, and the subsets of these proteins are used in interpreting the results.

What do total protein levels indicate?

A total protein test measures the amount of protein present in the blood serum or urine. A total protein test can detect normal or abnormal protein levels, which can help diagnose medical conditions, such as kidney and liver diseases.

What are the symptoms of too much protein in your blood?

Symptoms associated with too much protein include:

• intestinal discomfort and indigestion.
• dehydration.
• unexplained exhaustion.
• nausea.
• irritability.
• headache.
• diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of high protein in blood?

Symptoms of high protein levels can include:

• pain in your bones.
• numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or legs.
• loss of appetite.
• weight loss.
• excessive thirst.
• frequent infections.

What is the purpose of a serum protein electrophoresis?

Serum protein electrophoresis is a specific electrophoresis test that is used to identify proteins, called globulins, which are present in blood serum.

What causes elevated total protein?

A high total protein level can be the result of chronic inflammation or infection, such as with viral hepatitis or HIV, a bone marrow disorder like multiple myeloma , or dehydration.

What causes low serum protein levels?

Low total serum protein levels can result from poor nutrition, impaired liver function, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, exposure to toxins or any other condition that impairs protein synthesis or increases protein losses.

What are the normal protein levels?

Normal Results. The normal protein range varies from lab to lab, but is typically about 15 to 60 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 0.15 to 0.6 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results.