Educational information only. At Precursor, blood testing is requested and reviewed by a clinician and considered alongside your history and other markers, not as a stand-alone diagnosis. Testing is performed in NATA-accredited laboratories to ISO 15189 standards.

What is total protein?

Total protein measures all the protein in the liquid part of your blood, which is essentially albumin plus the many proteins grouped together as globulins. It is a broad, general marker that gives an overview of your protein status and prompts a closer look when it is unexpectedly high or low.

Why it matters

On its own, total protein is a summary figure. Its real value comes from being split into albumin and globulin, because the balance between those two tells a clinician far more than the combined total. It offers useful context on liver function, nutrition and the immune system.

What your results can mean

If your result is higher

A high total protein often reflects a rise in globulins, which can accompany inflammation, infection or other immune activity, and is followed up by looking at the components.

If your result is lower

A low total protein can reflect reduced liver production, poor nutrition or protein losses, and is interpreted through its albumin and globulin parts.

Australian reporting and interpretation

Total protein is reported in grams per litre (g/L). The RCPA harmonised adult interval is 60 to 80 g/L. It is interpreted with albumin, globulin and the interval printed on your own report.

Test your liver with Precursor

Total protein only tells its story once broken down. At Precursor it is measured as part of Full Advanced Bloods, a single clinician-reviewed blood draw covering your liver, heart, metabolic, hormonal, kidney, thyroid and nutrient markers together, giving you and your clinician a broad baseline to understand and track.