Total protein refers to the total serum or plasma protein and can be determined by machine or very simply by taking the microhematocrit tube that you used for your PCV and breaking it at the level of the serum or plasma and then placing a drop onto a refractometer.
Serum total protein contains albumin and globulins while plasma total protein will also contain fibrinogen and other proteins, so it is important to know what type of sample you have when looking up results. Just remember that serum comes from blood without any anticoagulants added, and plasma comes from blood with anticoagulants such as from "purple-top" tubes which contain a coagulant called EDTA or "green-top tubes" which contain heparin. Also note that some microhematocrit tubes come coated with heparin as an anticoagulant.
Increased total protein may be caused by:
-Dehydration: this is a false or "relative" increase. The amount of protein is actually normal, but the amount of water it is diluted in is decreased. It's like adding a teaspoon of instant coffee to a half a cup of hot water instead of a full cup. The amount of coffee is the same, but the concentration is higher.
-Chronic immune stimulation: either from illness, infection, or immune system disorders.
-Cancer: plasma cell myeloma
Decreased total protein may be caused by:
-Overhydration: as with fluid therapy.
-Liver disease: the liver is responsible for making albumin and many clotting proteins.
-Renal disease: protein loss in the urine.
-GI issues: protein losing enteropathies, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
-Loss: via internal or external bleeding (even with normal RBC counts due to the reserve of RBC's in the spleen -there is no such reserve for blood proteins and so, this can be a first sign). Proteins may also be lost through exudates such as with severe burns.
-Malnutrition: the body has nothing to make proteins with.
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