Liver function tests, also known as liver chemistries, are used to screen, detect, and monitor acute and chronic liver inflammation, infection, disease, and liver damage. LFT help to investigate the overall health of your liver by measuring the levels of proteins, liver enzymes, and bilirubin in your blood.
When to get tested?
To evaluate liver function; whenever you are at risk for liver injury; when a patient has liver disease and symptoms such as jaundice when you are taking medications that may affect your liver.
The LFT is recommended in the following situations:
To check if there are any liver damage liver infections,
To detect the side effects of certain medicines which are known to affect the liver
if the patient has liver disease, to investigate the disease and how well the treatment is working
if patient is experiencing symptoms of a liver disorder
In certain medical conditions like high triglycerides, diabetes, high blood pressure,
if the patient is alcoholic
if the patient has gallbladder disease
What type of Sample required?
A blood sample is taken from a patient arm.
Is there any test preparation required?
None
WHAT IS BEING TESTED?
Liver Function Tests is a group of tests that are conducted together to detect, investigate, and monitor liver disease and damage. The liver is one of the largest and important organs in the body and is situated in the upper right-hand part of the abdomen and behind the lower ribs. The liver detoxifies drugs and substances that are injurious to the body. It produces blood clotting factors, proteins, and enzymes and helps to maintain the hormone balances, and stores vitamin and minerals. The Bile is a fluid secreted by the liver and is transported through ducts to the small intestine and helps in digesting the fats or to the gallbladder to be stored and concentrated for later use.
Some common liver function tests
Alanine transaminase (ALT) test
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test
Albumin test
Bilirubin test