Albumin

Abstract

THE INCREASING use of human serum albumin, which recently has threatened to stress the usual annual supply and to add considerably to health care costs, prompted a cooperative study in early 1975 between the federal government and the private sector. This led to the development of three projects: (1) A workshop was convened in Bethesda, Md, under joint sponsorship of the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, National Heart and Lung Institute, and the Division of Blood and Blood Products, Bureau of Biologics. This meeting in February 1975 defined the present state of knowledge of the structure, synthesis, and function of albumin and reviewed in depth its current clinical use. The proceedings were subsequently published. 1 (2) Recommendations were formulated on areas needing further basic or applied research. (3) Guidelines for the appropriate clinical use of albumin were proposed and are currently being circularized to concerned persons for comment. Although