Total Protein: What Your Result Means
Result guide · Liver & Kidney
Content last reviewed 2026-09-12 · Educational information — not medical advice
Quick answer
Total protein measures all the protein in your blood — mainly albumin plus globulins. It is a broad screening number: low values suggest liver, kidney, or nutritional problems, while high values point to chronic inflammation or a blood-protein disorder.
What is Total Protein?
The test adds albumin (made by the liver, which keeps fluid in the vessels) to globulins (antibodies and carrier proteins). Because it is a sum, an abnormal total can come from changes in either part, so it is always read with albumin and the A/G ratio.
Typical reference interval: Commonly about 6.0–8.3 g/dL in adults; pregnancy and age shift the range.. Laboratories differ — the interval printed on YOUR report always governs.
If your Total Protein is high
Common reasons Total Protein runs above the reference interval:
- Chronic inflammation or infection — more antibodies and acute-phase proteins
- Dehydration — concentrates the blood and can falsely raise the total
- Multiple myeloma — abnormal antibody production raises globulins
- Liver disease — advanced disease can raise globulins even as albumin falls
If your Total Protein is low
Common reasons Total Protein runs below the reference interval:
- Liver disease — reduced albumin production
- Kidney protein loss — nephrotic syndrome leaks protein into urine
- Malnutrition or malabsorption — not enough protein intake or uptake
- Gut protein loss — protein-losing enteropathy
Symptoms worth knowing
Swelling (edema), fatigue, unintended weight loss, or recurrent infections may accompany abnormal protein levels, depending on the cause.
What usually happens next
Get your Total Protein checked
These lab tests measure Total Protein directly. Ordering online takes a few minutes and results arrive securely.
We may earn a commission when you order through partner links on the following pages. Educational information here never replaces advice from a qualified healthcare provider.
Panels that include this value
Total Protein appears as one line inside these broader panels — better value than ordering single markers alone:
Related result guides
Frequently asked questions about Total Protein results
What causes low total protein?
Most often liver disease, kidney protein loss, malnutrition, or gut protein loss — the albumin and A/G ratio help tell which.
Can dehydration affect total protein?
Yes — dehydration concentrates the blood and can raise total protein without any true protein excess, so it is usually rechecked when hydrated.
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