Liver Function Test:
Liver function tests are blood tests used to help diagnose and monitor liver disease or damage. The tests measure the levels of certain enzymes and proteins in blood.
Liver function tests can be used to:
- Screen for liver infections, such as hepatitis.
- Monitor the progression of a disease, such as viral or alcoholic hepatitis, and determine the treatment.
- Measure the severity of a disease, particularly scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).
- Monitor possible side effects of medications.
General symptoms of liver problems include: Lack of appetite, Nausea or vomiting, Weakness or feeling very tired, Yellowish eyes or skin (jaundice).
Some common liver function tests include:
- ALTL - Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
- ASTL- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
- ALB2 - Albumin Blood Test
- BIL - Bilirubin
- ALP2L- (Alkaline phosphatase)
- TP- Total Protein
- Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)
- L-lactate dehydrogenase (LD)
- Prothrombin time (PT)
ALTL - Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) / (Normal Range: 7 to 55 units per liter (U/L)
Alanine aminotransferase is an enzyme that is concentrated primarily in the liver. ALT levels can increase when liver cells are damaged, so the test can be used to evaluate the condition of the liver. ALT testing may be useful in diagnosis of symptoms that can be tied to liver problems like nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, itching, jaundice, fatigue, and appetite loss.
High levels of ALT can be a result of damage or injury to cells. Because ALT is most concentrated in the liver, abnormal ALT test results are generally associated with conditions affecting the liver, such as inflammation (hepatitis) and scarring (cirrhosis).
ASTL- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) / (Normal Range: 5 to 40 units per liter (U/L)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme AST exists mostly in the liver, but it is found in numerous tissues in the body.AST may be measured if you have had jaundice, fatigue, swelling, unexplained weight loss, itching, nausea and vomiting, or other symptoms that are associated with liver problems.
AST levels in the blood can rise when cells are damaged, elevated AST can reflect health conditions, including liver diseases like cirrhosis or hepatitis.Very high levels of AST often reflect short-term liver damage while smaller but persistent elevations in AST over time can be tied to chronic conditions.
ALB2 - Albumin Blood Test / (Normal Range: 3.5 to 5.5 grams per deciliter g/dL)
Albumin is a protein.Test used forMeasure the potential liver disease such as jaundice or fatigue or symptoms of possible kidney disease such as abnormal urination or unexplained swelling, particularly of the feet and legs.
Abnormally low albumin levels can also be tied to kidney conditions, malnutrition, inflammation, infection, thyroid disease, and gastrointestinal problems
Abnormally high levels of albumin most often occur as a result of dehydration, which may be caused by other conditions such as severe diarrhoea.
BIL – Bilirubin / (Normal Range: 0.3 and 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
To screen for or monitor liver disorders or hemolytic anemia; to monitor neonatal jaundice. Bilirubin is an orange-yellow pigment Heme is a component of hemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells (RBCs) Bilirubin is ultimately processed by the liver.Test measures the amount of bilirubin in the blood to evaluate a person’s liver function or to help diagnose anemias caused by RBC destruction (hemolytic anemia).
Unconjugated (indirect) bilirubin, there typically is a problem associated with decreased elimination of bilirubin by the liver cells.Some conditions that may cause this include: Viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C), Drug reactions, and Alcoholic liver disease.Conjugated (direct) bilirubin is also elevated more than unconjugated (indirect) bilirubin when the liver is able to process bilirubin but there is blockage of the bile ducts.This may occur, for example, with: Gallstones present in the bile ducts, Tumors, Scarring of the bile ducts.
Increased bilirubin levels may result from the accelerated breakdown of red blood cells due to: Blood type incompatibility between the mother and her newborn, causing hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), certain congenital infections, Lack of oxygen (hypoxia), Diseases that can affect the liver.
ALP2L- (Alkaline phosphatase) / (Normal Range: 40 to 129 units per liter (U/L)
Alkaline phosphatase, or ALP, is another liver enzyme that is measured in a standard liver panel or comprehensive metabolic panel. ALP is produced and found in the liver. But it is also present in a number of other tissues in the body, including the bones.
Test results that are below normal are sometimes found in people with malnutrition or anaemia.
Higher-than-normal levels of ALP indicates liver damage or disease, a blocked bile duct, or bone disease.
TP Total Protein / (Normal Range: 6 to 8.3 g/dL)
Albumin and globulin are two types of protein in your body. The total protein test measures the total amount albumin and globulin in your body. It’s used as part of your routine health checkup.It may also be used if you have unexpected weight loss, fatigue, or the symptoms of a kidney or liver disease. Albumin proteins keep fluid from leaking out of your blood vessels. Globulin proteins play an important role in your immune system.
Low total protein may indicate: bleeding, liver disorder, kidney disorder, such as a nephrotic disorder or glomerulonephritis, malnutrition, malabsorption conditions, such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease, extensive burns, agammaglobulinemia,which is an inherited condition in which your blood doesn’t have enough of a type of globulin, affecting the strength of your immune system, inflammatory conditions, delayed post-surgery recovery.
Elevated total protein may indicate: inflammation or infections, such as viral hepatitis B or C, or HIV, bone marrow disorders, such as multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom’s disease.
Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) / (Normal Range: 8 to 61 units per liter (U/L)
GGT is an enzyme in the blood. Higher-than-normal levels may indicate liver or bile duct damage.
L-lactate dehydrogenase (LD) / (Normal Range: 122 to 222 units per liter (U/L)
LD is an enzyme found in the liver. Elevated levels may indicate liver damage but can be elevated in many other disorders.
Prothrombin time (PT) / (Normal Range: 9.4 to 12.5 seconds)
PT is the time it takes your blood to clot. Increased PT may indicate liver damage Medications that thin your blood, such as warfarin (Coumadin), can also lead to a longer PT.
Sample Analysis:
Sample types: Serum, plasma, urine, CSF, hemolysate and whole blood (HbA1c).
Instrumentation: Cobas Integra 400 Plus
LFT are performed by Cobas Integra 400+ system. The COBAS INTEGRA 400 plus system has up to 36 different on-board assays.All types of sample matrices are measured with one of 4 different measuring technologies – absorbance photometry, turbidimetry, fluorescence polarisation and ion selective potentiometry
No comments:
Post a Comment