Alpha-2 Globulin optimal range and reference range
Compiled by Alina Radu, founder of Sera, from the published sources below · Last reviewed November 9, 2026
Sera's bands for Alpha-2 Globulin:
- Optimal 0.6 – 1 g/dL (6 – 10 g/L); out of range below 0.6 or above 1 g/dL.
Evidence grade: Published reference interval. A band that primarily reflects a published adult laboratory or population reference interval. It is not necessarily applicable to every assay or laboratory.
All units
| Unit | Optimal | Sufficient | Out of range |
|---|---|---|---|
| g/dL | 0.6 – 1 | — | below 0.6 or above 1 |
| g/L | 6 – 10 | — | below 6 or above 10 |
No separate Sufficient band is currently defined for this marker.
What the evidence says
Rises with inflammation and tissue injury, and markedly in nephrotic syndrome, where alpha-2 macroglobulin is too large to be lost in the urine while smaller proteins are. A low alpha-2 points the other way, at haemolysis consuming haptoglobin. The band of 0.6 to 1.0 g/dL (6 to 10 g/L) takes its lower limit from MedlinePlus and its upper limit from Labcorp; the University of Michigan prints 0.54 to 0.97. Some laboratories set the lower limit at 0.4 to 0.5, so check a borderline low against the report's own range.
Assay: Results differ meaningfully between platforms and methods. Compare against the interval printed by the issuing laboratory before acting on a borderline value.
Sources
- Protein electrophoresis - serum — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, US National Library of Medicine, 2026 · Government / public-health guidanceNormal alpha-2 globulin is 0.6 to 0.9 g/dL (6 to 9 g/L). The lower limit matches Sera's 0.6; the upper is 0.1 below Sera's 1.0. Reviewed 1/29/2026.
- Protein Electrophoresis, Serum (test 001487) sample report — Labcorp, 2016 · Laboratory / reference-interval sourceLabcorp's sample report prints alpha-2 globulin 0.4 to 1.0 g/dL. The upper limit matches Sera's 1.0. Report dated 2016.
- Protein Electrophoresis, Serum (0050640) — ARUP Laboratories, 2026 · Laboratory / reference-interval sourceAlpha-2 globulin 0.48 to 1.05 g/dL. Supports an upper limit of about 1.0; its lower limit is below Sera's 0.6. The page is undated; opened October 2026.
- Protein Electrophoresis, Serum — Michigan Medicine Laboratories (MLabs), University of Michigan, 2026 · Laboratory / reference-interval sourceAlpha-2 globulin 0.54 to 0.97 g/dL, close to Sera's 0.6 to 1.0. The page is undated; opened October 2026.
- Protein Electrophoresis (Serum) — University of Iowa Health Care, Laboratory Services Handbook, 2023 · Laboratory / reference-interval sourceAlpha-2 0.3 to 0.8 g/dL, lower than the other laboratories, showing the method dependence. Capillary electrophoresis; the page says its reference ranges changed on 10/17/2023.
What Alpha-2 Globulin measures
The alpha-2 fraction from serum protein electrophoresis, chiefly haptoglobin, alpha-2 macroglobulin and ceruloplasmin.
Rises with inflammation and tissue injury, and rises markedly in nephrotic syndrome, where alpha-2 macroglobulin is too large to be lost in the urine while smaller proteins are. A low alpha-2 points at haemolysis, which consumes haptoglobin.