| Material | Serum or EDTA plasma or heparin plasma or cerebrospinal fluid 0.5 ml or urine |
| Method | Photometry |
| Duration | Reporting of results on the day the sample is received (Mon–Sat) |
| Remark | - Total serum protein mainly consists of albumin and globulins.
- Absolute hyperproteinaemia: usually the result of chronic inflammatory processes, persistent infections or neoplastic diseases (e.g. plasmacytoma)
- Relative hyperproteinaemia: caused by fluid loss due to dehydration
- Absolute hypoproteinaemia due to protein loss via the kidneys, intestine or haemorrhage; due to reduced protein synthesis (liver dysfunction), loss into the third space (e.g. ascites, exudates)
- Relative hypoproteinaemia: result of increased fluid intake or dilution
- In cerebrospinal fluid, an increase in total protein indicates inflammatory or neoplastic CNS diseases.
- In urine, assessment is based on the protein/creatinine ratio (see Urinalysis).
- To differentiate between individual protein fractions, serum protein electrophoresis is used (see Immunological Tests / Markers for Inflammation).
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