Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins > Proteins > Albumins > Serum Albumin Terms and Definitions

Serum Albumin

Medical Definition:	A major protein in the BLOOD. It is important in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure and transporting large organic molecules.
Also Called:	Plasma Albumin

Serum Albumin Categories.

	Methemalbumin - A 1:1 molar complex of heme or hematin and albumin formed after the dissociation of methemoglobin into heme or hematin and globin in plasma. This complex, which imparts a coffee-brown color to plasma, occurs in hemolytic and hemorrhagic disorders. Its presence in plasma is used as a test to differentiate between hemorrhagic and edematous pancreatitis.
	Prealbumin - A tetrameric protein, molecular weight between 50,000 and 70,000, consisting of 4 equal chains, and migrating on electrophoresis in 3 fractions more mobile than serum albumin. Its concentration ranges from 7 to 33 per cent in the serum, but levels decrease in liver disease.
	Serum Albumin, Bovine - Serum albumin from cows, commonly used in in vitro biological studies. (From Stedman, 25th ed)

Serum Albumin Medical Definitions and Terms

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