Table of Contents
- Overview
- Results
- Risks
- Prevention
Serum myoglobin is a test that measures the amount of myoglobin in the blood.
Myoglobin is a protein in heart and skeletal muscles. When you exercise, your muscles use up any available oxygen. Myoglobin has oxygen attached to it, which provides extra oxygen for the muscles to keep at a high level of activity for a longer period of time.
When muscle is damaged, myoglobin is released into the bloodstream. The kidneys help remove myoglobin from the body into the urine. In large amounts, myoglobin can damage the kidneys.
See also:
Alternative Names
Serum myoglobin
How the test is performed
A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see:
How to prepare for the test
There is no special preparation.
How the test will feel
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, you may feel moderate pain, or only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performed
Myoglobin levels may be obtained to confirm suspected muscle damage, including heart and skeletal muscle damage.
Review Date: 02/21/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
