Proteins are complex compounds made of amino acids. Every cell in your body requires protein, and protein also serves an important function in your organs, skin, muscles and glands. You will find protein in all of your body fluid except for bile. Doctors can measure the protein level in your body, and although your body requires protein, a high protein count can potentially indicate health problems.
High Blood Protein
High protein levels found through a blood test can indicate chronic inflammation or infection. Additionally, high blood protein levels can indicate several bone marrow diseases. A doctor will analyze high blood protein levels in the context of other parameters and symptoms. A high blood protein level in and of itself does not indicate any specific medical condition or disorder.
Total Protein
The total protein test measures the total amount of proteins found in the fluid portion of your blood. This test takes into account two proteins, albumin and globulin. Doctors will order a total protein test when you have suspected nutritional, kidney or liver problems. According to "Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function," the normal range for total protein in a healthy adult is 6 to 8.3 g/dL.
Meaning of Abnormal Results
High total protein levels can indicate multiple myeloma, chronic inflammation or infection, HIV, hepatitis B or C, or Waldenstrom's disease. Low total protein levels, on the other hand, can indicate bleeding or hemorrhage, liver disease, malnutrition, a kidney disease called nephritic syndrome, an immune disease called agammaglobulinemia, extensive burns and malabsorption. Again, doctors will only use this test as a diagnostic tool, and high or low total protein levels alone do not indicate a specific medical condition or disorder.
Urine Protein
Doctors use urine protein tests to determine the amount of protein found in your urine. Doctors typically test urine protein using a random sample of urine and a dipstick. Urine protein tests are generally less accurate than other types of protein tests, as antibiotics, aspirin and diuretics, among other drugs, can alter the results of urine protein tests. Other factors that may contribute to high protein counts in urine include dehydration, excessive exercise, severe emotional stress, urinary tract infection and urine contaminated with vaginal secretions.
Urine Protein Results
According to "Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function," the normal range in a urine protein test ranges from 0 to 8 mg/dL. Doctors consider a protein count above 8 mg/dL to be high. A high protein count in a urine protein test does not indicate a specific medical condition.
References
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Dennis Kasper, et al.; 2004
- "Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology"; John E. Hall; 2010
- "Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function"; Arthur Vander, et al.; 1998
- "User's Guide to Protein and Amino Acids"; Keri Marshall; 2005
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phylis A Balch, et al.; 2000
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