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Liver Function Tests: MedlinePlus

Liver Function Tests: MedlinePlus

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05/05/2016 10:26 AM EDT

Source: National Library of Medicine
Your liver helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Liver function tests are blood tests that check to see how well your liver is working. They check for liver damage, and can help diagnose liver diseases such as hepatitis andcirrhosis. You may have liver function tests as part of a regular checkup. Or you may have them if you have symptoms ofliver disease. Doctors also use the tests to monitor some liver diseases, treatments, and possible side effects of medicines.

Liver function tests measure certain proteins, enzymes, and substances, including:

Albumin, a protein that the liver makes
Total protein (TP)
Enzymes that are found in the liver, including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)
Bilirubin, a yellow substance that is part of bile. It is formed when your red blood cells break down. Too much bilirubin in the blood can cause jaundice. There is also a urine test for bilirubin.
Prothrombin time, which measures how long it takes for your blood to clot. Prothrombin is made by the liver.

A photo of a woman having her blood drawn

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Liver Function Tests

Also called: Hepatic function panel, Liver panel, Liver tests

Summary

Your liver helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Liver function tests are blood tests that check to see how well your liver is working. They check for liver damage, and can help diagnose liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. You may have liver function tests as part of a regular checkup. Or you may have them if you have symptoms of liver disease. Doctors also use the tests to monitor some liver diseases, treatments, and possible side effects of medicines.

Liver function tests measure certain proteins, enzymes, and substances, including:

Albumin, a protein that the liver makes
Total protein (TP)
Enzymes that are found in the liver, including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)
Bilirubin, a yellow substance that is part of bile. It is formed when your red blood cells break down. Too much bilirubin in the blood can cause jaundice. There is also a urine test for bilirubin.
Prothrombin time, which measures how long it takes for your blood to clot. Prothrombin is made by the liver.

Start Here

Liver Function Tests (American Liver Foundation)
Liver Panel (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)

Specifics

Albumin Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Bilirubin Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Elevated Liver Enzymes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase) Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Total Protein and Albumin/Globulin Ratio Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)