Serum albumin

Serum albumin, often referred to simply as albumin, is the most abundant plasma protein in humans and other mammals. Albumin is essential for maintaining the osmotic pressure needed for proper distribution of body fluids between intravascular compartments and body tissues. It also acts as a plasma carrier by non-specifically binding several hydrophobic steroid hormones and as a transport protein for hemin and fatty acids.

Types

 * The human version is human serum albumin.
 * Bovine serum albumin, or BSA, is commonly used in immunodiagnostic procedures, clinical chemistry reagents, cell culture media, protein chemistry research and molecular biology laboratories (usually to leverage its non-specific protein binding properties).

Function
Major contributors to oncotic pressure (known also as colloid osmotic pressure) of plasma; carriers for various substances