Albumin is the smallest but most abundant water-soluble protein present in the blood. The most common type of albumin is serum albumin, which is manufactured by the liver, and is a bit sticky and pale in color. It is present in huge quantity in blood plasma. The main function of Serum albumin is to maintain the osmotic pressure in the blood. However, due to some circulatory disorders occurring in the body, such as high blood pressure, albumin may pass through the blood vessels. In such situations, albumin comes out from the body through the urine.

Albumin is also called negative acute-phase protein. This means albumin is a type of protein that decreases during severe body infections and excessive stress. As the liver manufactures albumin, a test to measure albumin level helps in determining adequate functioning of the liver and the kidneys. Kidneys, as you know, constitute the main filter system of the body. Therefore, if kidneys malfunction, the albumin level may also change there. Therefore, albumin may be filtered out of the body by improper functioning renal system.

Other than determining the functions of liver and kidneys, albumin test also helps determining the dietary conditions, internal damages, and several chronic diseases.