Total protein
Total protein is the sum of all proteins in the blood — mostly albumin and globulins (antibodies and carriers). They reflect nutritional status, liver function and immune/inflammatory activity.
| Rating | Range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Talk to a doctor | below 62 g/L | |
| Good | 62 – 78 g/L | Within the reference range. |
| Worth improving | 78 g/L and above |
Why it matters
Low with poor diet, liver/kidney disease, or loss; high with dehydration or monoclonal diseases — the albumin/globulin ratio determines the meaning.
If it’s low
Low total protein accompanies malnutrition, liver disease or loss through the kidneys/bowel.
If it’s high
High total protein can accompany chronic inflammation/infection, dehydration or (less often) a disorder of antibody production.
What to do
Evaluate together with albumin (the difference = globulins). Clarify an abnormality with additional tests; on its own it is only a screening measure.
Read together with
Albumin
Articles about this marker
- Albumin blood test: what low or high albumin meansMarker explained
This content is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your results.
Your number, not the average
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