Home
HelpTest Code PAB. Prealbumin
EHR Test Codes
| Test Code | Test Name | |
| Atlas | PAB | Prealbumin |
| Cerner | Prealbumin |
Specimen Requirements
Preparation of Patient:
None
Container Type:
Green Top 5mL Lithium Heparin Separator Tube
Or
Gold Top 6mL SST Gel & Clot Activator Tube
Specimen Type:
Plasma or Serum
Specimen Volume:
2.5 mL Plasma or Serum minimum .5 mL
Specimen Handling/Transport:
Separate plasma or serum from cells within 2 hours of collection.
Transport ambient room temperature.
Specimen Stability/Storage:
5 days refrigerated 2-8°C
Performing Laboratory
Munson Healthcare Laboratories
Chemistry Department
Priority, Frequency, & Turnaround
Priority:
Non-Emergent
Frequency:
24 hours 7 days a week
Turnaround:
0 - 1 days
Methodology
Immunoturbidimetric
Reporting
Reference Range:
19.1 - 41.3 mg/dL
Critical Decision:
None
Clinical Significance
Prealbumin is a protein marker used in combination with albumin as an assessment of nutritional status. Malnutrition may decrease healing time and increase complications for surgical and long term care patients. It is a more sensitive marker than albumin as prealbumin half-life is 1-9 days compared to albumins 2-3 weeks. In patients with an albumin of less than 3.0 g/dl, a prealbumin of < 10 mg/dl is indicative of malnutrition and prealbumin in the 10-16 range suggests a mildly to moderately malnourished patient. When prealbumin is used to monitor supplemental nutritional therapy a continuing increase of 1 mg/dl a week is preferred.
CPT Code(s)
84134