Formal Name
Serum myoglobin, Urine myoglobin
This article was last reviewed on
This article waslast modified on 30 October 2017.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?

To determine whether muscle has been injured

When To Get Tested?

If you have muscle pain or weakness after muscle damage, particularly if your urine becomes dark reddish-brown in colour

Sample Required?

A blood sample taken from a vein in the arm or a random urine sample

Test Preparation Needed?








What is being tested?

Blood is being tested for the presence of myoglobin, a red protein found in muscles. While haemoglobin brings oxygen to most of the body, myoglobin traps oxygen in muscle to allow muscle cells to work properly. When muscle is injured, myoglobin is released into the blood and appears in the urine.

How is the sample collected for testing?



No test preparation is needed.

Accordion Title
Common Questions
  • How is it used?

    Myoglobin is a small protein that leaks out of muscle cells soon after injury. Myoglobin blood concentrations start to rise within 1–3 hours of muscle injury, reach their highest values by about 8–12 hours, and generally fall back to normal by about one day after injury occurred.

  • When is it requested?

    Myoglobin blood tests may be requested in people who had sustained muscle trauma, particularly crush injuries, burns or electrocution. They were also requested in those who had developed muscle pain and weakness

    • after being immobile for a long time on a hard surface (for example during an operation or after a stroke, drugs or alcohol)
    • following severe exercise
    • after a fit
    • during a severe infection

    particularly if their urine had develops a reddish-brown colour and gave a positive dip-stick test for blood. (Myoglobin reacts with the dip-sticks in the same way as haemoglobin from blood cells.) However, the blood test has been superseded by the muscle enzyme creatine kinase (CK) which is more sensitive and the concentration remains elevated in the bloodstream for longer following injury.

  • What does the test result mean?


  • Is there anything else I should know?

    The excretion of myoglobin by the kidney can lead to renal failure.

    Myoglobin is no longer requested in people with chest pain who are suspected of having had a heart attack, having been superseded by troponin, a test which is specific for heart muscle and which also remains elevated for longer in the bloodstream.

  • How does myoglobin cause kidney failure?


  • How is a raised plasma myoglobin caused by a crush injury treated?

    An infusion is given into a vein of a large amount of saline (salt solution) to increase the rate of urine formation and reduce the risk of precipitation.

  • Are any other lab tests needed?

    Yes, it is important to monitor the patient for increasing plasma potassium and decreasing plasma calcium levels.