Prealbumin
A short-term marker of protein-calorie nutrition that responds within days.
Consider this test if:
- Monitoring nutritional adequacy during total parenteral nutrition or refeeding
- Unintended weight loss, poor appetite, or suspected protein-calorie malnutrition
- Liver disease or protein-wasting conditions of the gut or kidney
- Tracking response to a nutrition plan over days rather than weeks
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in 1 day · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
No fasting required. Acute illness, infection, or inflammation lowers prealbumin independent of nutrition, so results are most meaningful when interpreted against your current clinical state and, ideally, an inflammatory marker such as CRP.
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What this test is for
Prealbumin (transthyretin) is a protein made by the liver that tracks protein-calorie nutritional status. Because it has a half-life of roughly two days, it falls and recovers faster than albumin, which makes it a sensitive marker of recent nutritional change and of response to feeding or total parenteral nutrition. Low prealbumin is seen in protein-calorie malnutrition, liver disease, protein-losing conditions of the gut or kidney, and acute inflammation. It drops with any inflammatory state, so a low value alongside high CRP often reflects inflammation rather than nutrition alone, which is why the two are commonly read together. It rises back toward normal within days once adequate nutrition is restored, making it useful for confirming that a feeding plan is working.
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Typical results in 1 day
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
Everything your health needs,
in one membership
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Every test at our cost
Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
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Continuous tracking, all in one place
Upload past labs and watch your trends over time. Every marker and visit lives in one longitudinal record, so all your care stays together.
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Year-round clinician support
Text anytime and get clinician-reviewed answers. When you want to go deeper, 1:1 consultations are available at affordable rates.
All for $9/month
Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
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$9 /mo
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Without membership
$0
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost — covering the lab and what it takes to run the service — never a profit on the test itself; Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9/mo, and you still pay the lab’s order fee. Prices are itemized before you pay, with no hidden fees.
Where do I get tested?
Choose a partner lab (Quest, Labcorp, or BioReference) at checkout. If your cart spans multiple tests, we consolidate the whole order onto a single lab so you only make one visit.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. This test is HSA/FSA eligible, and you can pay with your HSA/FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results post to your dashboard once your lab completes them, then a clinician reviews them and your full analysis and personalized action plan (with clear next steps) follow. Turnaround varies by test: specialty assays and at-home kits take longer, and each test shows its expected turnaround before you buy.
Do I need a doctor’s order?
No. Mito provides the lab order for you, so you can book and get tested without a separate doctor visit.
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