$13.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Metabolism & organs
Prealbumin test
Short-half-life protein; can reflect recent nutritional status better than albumin.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Prealbumin is a protein made by your liver that helps carry thyroid hormone and vitamin A in your blood. Your body replaces it quickly, so it can show changes in your nutrition within days.
Why it matters for women
Prealbumin can help track nutrition when eating is hard, such as with morning sickness that won’t let up, during recovery from an eating disorder, or after weight-loss surgery. Because illness and inflammation can also lower it, it’s read alongside other results rather than on its own.
You might check it if…
- you’ve had trouble eating enough because of illness or pregnancy sickness
- you’re recovering from an eating disorder
- you’ve had weight-loss surgery
- a doctor is tracking your nutrition during recovery
What your result may mean
High Prealbumin: what it may mean
High prealbumin may be uncommon, but it can happen with Hodgkin lymphoma (Hodgkin's lymphoma) or steroid use. Reduced kidney function can also raise it, since the kidneys help clear this protein. Dehydration can make it read higher as well. You may notice no symptoms from a high value, though a clinician may look at your kidney results and medicines. It can't tell you whether your nutrition is good, so it may be read with your overall health and other results.
Low Prealbumin: what it may mean
Low prealbumin may point to recent protein-calorie malnutrition or inflammation, and it can drop within days of poor intake. It can help track nutrition when eating is hard, such as with morning sickness that won't let up, during recovery from an eating disorder or after weight-loss surgery. Illness, infection, inflammation and liver disease can lower it even when you eat well, so a CRP test and your weight history can help a clinician judge it. You may notice tiredness, weight loss or muscle loss if intake has been low.
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These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.