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Total protein is a measure of all the protein in your blood. A low level can point to a liver or kidney disease, or to getting too few nutrients. A high level can point to certain viruses or to a blood condition.[1]
On this page you can read what total protein is, what the guidelines say about a level that is too low or too high, what affects your level, and which other values are best looked at alongside it.
Also known as: total serum protein, total protein with A/G ratio. At the lab: TP.
Total protein is the total amount of protein in your blood. Proteins have many important jobs in your body. They give your body energy and support your immune system.[1]
Your blood contains two large groups of proteins: albumin and globulins. Albumin makes up the largest part and is made in the liver. It helps keep fluid in your blood vessels and carries hormones, vitamins and medicines, among other things, around your body. Globulins support your immune system and carry nutrients, and are made partly by the liver and partly by the immune system.[1]
Total protein is measured in a blood sample taken from a vein in your arm. The value can show how well your liver and kidneys are working and whether you are getting enough nutrients. A low value can point to a liver or kidney disease, or to a lack of nutrients. Your doctor always looks at your result together with your symptoms, your medical history and your other blood values.[1]
An abnormal total protein level can be a sign of a serious medical problem, according to MedlinePlus. With certain conditions, your body can make too much or too little protein.[1]
The test also compares the amount of albumin with the amount of globulins. This is called the albumin/globulin ratio, or A/G ratio for short.[1]
Your doctor may order the test if you have symptoms that fit an abnormal protein level. Think of swelling in your feet, ankles, legs or abdomen from extra fluid in your tissues, tiredness, a reduced appetite, nausea or vomiting.[1]
A yellow colour of your skin or eyes can also be a reason. This is a common sign of a liver disease. The same applies to blood in your urine, a common sign of a kidney disease.[1]
Labplusarts, the lab BioProfile works with, uses a reference range of 60.0 to 80.0 g/l for total protein. The lab calls a level between those limits normal.[2]
| Value | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 60.0 to 80.0 g/l[2] | The lab calls this normal | Who has the TP test done at this lab |
Source: Labplusarts, the lab BioProfile works with. This is the lab's reference range for the TP test.[2]
According to MedlinePlus, a low value can point to a liver or kidney disease. It can also point to malnutrition, which means your body is not getting enough calories, vitamins or minerals. Or it can point to a condition in which your small intestine does not absorb enough nutrients from your food.[1]
A high level can point to certain viruses, such as HIV or a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. It can also point to a particular blood condition.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Is your body getting too few calories, vitamins or minerals, or is your small intestine not absorbing nutrients well? Then your level may come out low.[1]
Sometimes you need to stop taking certain medicines before the test. So tell your healthcare provider about everything you take. Do not stop taking a medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to.[1]
If the test is part of another blood test, you sometimes need to fast for a number of hours. This means you do not eat or drink anything. Your healthcare provider will tell you whether this is needed.[1]
Albumin makes up most of the protein in your blood. A high albumin level can point to severe dehydration or diarrhoea. If you are pregnant, a low albumin level is normal.[1]
Total protein is included in BioProfile 77, 87, 121 and 150.[3]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 10 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 10 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert has yet to check this page; after that check, the expert's name and the date of the check will appear at the top. This page offers explanation, not a diagnosis. Discuss a value outside the range with your GP.
