Tietz, N. (1995). Clinical Guide to laboratory test. Philadelphia: WB Saunders.

A total protein test is completed as part of your routine health checkup. It’s one of the tests that make up your comprehensive medical panel (CMP). It may be ordered if you have:

unexplained weight loss

fatigue

edema, which is swelling caused by extra fluid in your tissues

symptoms of kidney or liver disease

The total protein test measures the total amount of protein in your blood and specifically looks for the amount of albumin and globulin.

This test will also look at the ratio of albumin to globulin in your blood. This is known as the “A/G ratio.”

Elevated total protein may indicate:

inflammation or infections, such as viral hepatitis B or C, or HIV

bone marrow disorders, such as multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom’s disease

Low total protein may indicate:

bleeding

liver disorder

kidney disorder, such as a nephrotic disorder or glomerulonephritis

malnutrition

malabsorption conditions, such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease

extensive burns

agammaglobulinemia, which is an inherited condition in which your blood doesn’t have enough of a type of globulin, affecting the strength of your immune system

inflammatory conditions

delayed post-surgery recovery

A/G ratio

Normally, the A/G (albumin to globulin) ratio is slightly higher than 1. If the ratio is too low or too high, additional testing must be done to determine the cause and diagnosis. If the ratio is low, it can suggest:

autoimmune disease

multiple myeloma

cirrhosis

kidney disease

A high A/G ratio can indicate genetic deficiencies or leukemia. Make sure to discuss your results with your doctor. They may want to do follow-up testing.

http://web.itu.edu.tr/~dulekgurgen/Proteins.pdf