Total Protein

Measured in g/dL

The combined amount of albumin and other proteins in your blood — a broad, non-specific overview rather than a marker of any single system.

What it is

Total protein adds up the two main groups of protein in your blood: albumin (made by the liver) and globulins (a mixed group that includes antibodies). On its own, the total tells you fairly little — what clinicians usually look at is the balance between the two, sometimes expressed as the albumin/globulin ratio, and reviewed with liver enzymes and kidney markers. It's a wide-angle screen: hydration, inflammation, and recent illness can all nudge it, so a slightly off value is common and typically interpreted alongside the rest of the panel.

Typical range

  • Adults6.3–7.9 g/dL

Source · Mayo Clinic Laboratories (TP) (2026)

Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and what is normal for you depends on your own history. Your own lab’s range is the one printed on your report.

Worth asking your clinician

  • What does my total protein look like when you compare it with my albumin?
  • Is this value in a range you'd expect for me, or would you want to look further?
  • Could hydration or a recent illness explain this result?