AHFS Class:

16:00 Blood Derivatives

Generic Name

• Albumin Human

Albumin human is available in 20-, 50-, and 100-mL vials as a 25% aqueous solution. Each 100 mL of solution contains 25 g of serum albumin. Albumin human is also available as a 5% aqueous solution in 50-, 250-, 500-, and 1000-mL sizes. The products also contain sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, and/or acetic acid to adjust the pH.^1(1/05); ⁴ The products are heat-treated for inactivation of hepatitis viruses. Sodium caprylate and sodium N-acetyltryptophanate are added to the products as stabilizers to prevent denaturation during the heat treatment. Low aluminum-containing albumin human products contain less than 200 mcg/L of aluminum.^1(1/05)

pH

From 6.4 to 7.4.^1(1/05); ⁴

Sodium Content

From 130 to 160 mEq/L.^1(1/05); ⁴

Trade Name(s)

Albuminar, Albutein, Albumarc, Buminate, Plasbumin

Albumin human is administered intravenously either undiluted or diluted in an intravenous infusion solution having sufficient osmolality to be safely administered.^1(1/05); ⁴

CAUTION—Substantial reduction in tonicity, creating the potential for fatal hemolysis and acute renal failure, may result from the use of sterile water as a diluent. The hemolysis and acute renal failure that result from the use of a sufficient volume of sterile water as a diluent may be life-threatening.⁴; ¹⁹⁴²; ²⁰⁷²; ²⁰⁷³

Albumin human has been variously described as clear amber to deep orange-brown and as a transparent or slightly opalescent pale straw to dark brown solution. The solution should not be used if it is turbid or contains a deposit. Since it contains no preservative, the manufacturer recommends use within 4 hours after opening the vial. The expiration date is 5 years after issue from the manufacturer if the labeling recommends storage between 2 and 8 or 10°C, or not more than 3 years after issue from the manufacturer if the labeling recommends storage at temperatures not greater than 30 or 37°C.⁴

The addition of albumin human to parenteral nutrition solutions has resulted in occlusion of filters at concentrations ranging from over 25 g/L to 10.8 g/L.⁸⁵⁴; ¹⁶³⁴

Freezing Solutions

Freezing the albumin human solutions may damage the container and result in contamination.⁴

Solution Compatibility

Additive Compatibility

Y-Site Injection Compatibility (1:1 Mixture)

For a list of references cited in the text of this monograph, search the monograph titled References.

ASHP^® Injectable Drug Information^TM. Selected Revisions March 31, 2024. © Copyright, 2024. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists^®, 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.