Blood tests called “liver function tests” measure the many compounds your liver produces. Your healthcare professional can learn vital details from these measurements regarding your liver’s general condition and functionality. Several chemicals were frequently measured by a liver panel using a single blood sample. Several proteins, enzymes, and byproducts could be present.
The following are some of the blood tests of liver function that get most frequently performed:
Various Tests To Assess Liver Function
The assays used in liver function testing vary depending on the enzyme or protein getting assessed:
The ALT and AST
These enzymes, formerly known as SGOT and SGPT, are typically present in liver cells, but when liver cells get harmed, they leak out of the cells and mix with the blood. AST can also be seen in various organs like the heart and skeletal muscles, making the ALT a more focused sign of liver inflammation. In situations of viral hepatitis, the liver is damaged like a general indicator of the level of liver damage or inflammation, the ALT and AST levels can get employed.
Alkaline phosphatase:
Frequent tests of liver function to find a blockage in the biliary system is the alkaline phosphatase test (bile vessels). Gallstone disease, heavy alcohol consumption, and drug-induced hepatitis can all cause an increase in this enzyme. It can also get detected in biliary tumors or primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).
Bilirubin
The bile pigment, bilirubin, is produced naturally by the body as red blood cells get broken down. When levels get increased, they contribute to jaundice and skin turning into a yellow color. With numerous liver or biliary disorders, bilirubin levels might be high.
Albumin
The liver produces a significant amount of this protein. While several factors may influence the amount of albumin in the blood, chronic liver illnesses tend to induce a decline in albumin production, which lowers the blood albumin level and gets detected by the albumin test.
The GGT and LDH
The blood contains the enzyme gamma-glutamyltransferase. Atypically high levels could be a sign of bile duct or liver disease. The liver includes the enzyme LDH-lactate dehydrogenase, and high levels of it may be a sign of liver disease.
Prothrombin time (PT).
Your blood clots in PT/the clotting time. High PT may be a sign of liver damage, but it can also occur when you use certain blood thinners like warfarin.
Australia Antigen
The liver function test known as the Australia Antigen Test for Hepatitis B is crucial. The Australia antigen gets sometimes referred to as HBsAg and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen. An individual may have hepatitis B if the test results are positive. It could be acute or chronic hepatitis, or it could be the carrier status. In a blood sample, this test gets conducted.
