albumiinikorjausta

Albumiinikorjaus, often translated as albumin correction, is a process used in laboratory settings, particularly in clinical chemistry, to account for the presence of albumin in blood samples when interpreting certain test results. Albumin is a major protein in blood plasma and its concentration can vary significantly due to various physiological and pathological conditions. Some laboratory tests measure substances that are either bound to albumin or are otherwise influenced by albumin levels. Therefore, a raw measurement might not accurately reflect the true concentration of the substance of interest if the albumin concentration is unusually high or low.

The principle behind albumin correction is to normalize the measured value based on a standard albumin concentration. This is typically done by dividing the measured concentration of the analyte by the patient's measured albumin concentration and then multiplying by a reference albumin concentration. This calculation effectively adjusts the analyte's level as if the patient had a normal albumin level, providing a more accurate representation of the substance's unbound or truly active concentration. This is particularly important for tests like calcium, where a significant portion is bound to albumin. Without albumin correction, a patient with low albumin might appear to have low calcium, even if their ionized (biologically active) calcium levels are normal. Similarly, some drug levels can be affected by albumin binding, and correction may be applied to ensure accurate therapeutic monitoring. The specific method and reference values used for albumin correction can vary slightly between different laboratories and analytical platforms.