Version July 2025
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What is a prealbumin blood test? —
This is a test to check the level of prealbumin in the blood. Prealbumin is a protein made in the liver.
If you do not get enough protein in your diet, your prealbumin level might be low. This can affect your body's ability to grow or heal.
Why might I get a prealbumin blood test? —
Your doctor might order this test to:
●Find out if you are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition – "Malnutrition" is when your body is not getting the right nutrients it needs.
●Check for nutrition problems if you:
•Will have major surgery, such as surgery to treat cancer
•Need to stay in the hospital
•Have a long-term ("chronic") illness
•Have wounds that are not healing normally
●Monitor you if you are getting nutrition through a vein (by IV)
This test is often done along with other tests to check a person's "nutritional status." This means whether the body is getting the nutrients it needs to work correctly.
How do I prepare for a prealbumin blood test? —
You need to get a "blood draw." Your doctor or nurse will tell you where to go for this.
It might help to wear a short-sleeve shirt to your blood draw appointment. This makes it easier for the person drawing your blood to get to your arm.
What happens during a blood draw? —
A needle is used to take a small amount of blood from your arm (figure 1). Collecting the blood only takes a few minutes. The blood is then tested in a lab.
Tell the person who takes your blood:
●If you take "blood thinner" medicines or have a bleeding problem – They will make sure your bleeding is under control before you leave.
●If you have a latex allergy – Some of the supplies used for blood draws might contain latex.
●If you have a preferred arm to use
Most of the time, getting blood taken does not cause problems. You might have a little soreness or bruising where the needle went in.
What do my results mean? —
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to expect your results, and will contact you with the results. Or if you use an online "patient portal," you might get an alert there when your results are ready.
If your prealbumin level is too low, your doctor or nurse will talk to you about what to do next. They might need to do more tests to figure out the cause, or postpone major surgery until they can improve your nutrition.
If you do have a health problem, your doctor will work with you to come up with a treatment plan.
Patient education: Albumin blood test (The Basics)
Patient education: Malnutrition (The Basics)
