Lab tests
Liver function test (hepatic function panel) results explained
A liver panel is a group of blood tests reported together, usually under initials. Add your report below and each line is named in full, with your value, the laboratory's range and a short note on what that test looks at.
Explain your liver function test
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What you get
- Enzymes, bilirubin and proteins separated so the panel is easier to read.
- Initials such as ALT, ALP and GGT written out in full.
- A marker on each line your report shows as outside its range.
- Questions to ask about any flagged result.
Lines you will usually see on a liver panel
- ALT and ASTEnzymes found inside liver cells (AST is also found in muscle)
- ALPAn enzyme found in the liver, bile ducts and bone
- GGTAn enzyme found mainly in the liver and bile ducts
- Bilirubin, total and directA yellow pigment made when old red blood cells are broken down
- Albumin and total proteinProteins in the blood, most of them made by the liver
What this tool cannot tell you
Despite the name, most of these tests do not measure how well the liver is working. Several of them can also be raised for reasons outside the liver, and what matters is usually the pattern across the panel and how it changes over time. MedicDecode explains each line. It does not say what a raised result is caused by.
Common questions
What does a hepatic function panel test for?
It measures liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP and sometimes GGT), bilirubin, and proteins such as albumin. Together they show how the liver and bile ducts are working.
Do you need to fast for a liver function test?
Many laboratories do not require it, but some ask you to fast. Follow the instructions you were given for your test.
When should I worry about a liver function test?
Small rises are common and can be temporary. Your doctor reads the pattern of results with your symptoms, history and medicines; ask them what your flagged values mean for you.
What is the difference between total and direct bilirubin?
Direct (conjugated) bilirubin has already been processed by the liver. Reports usually give the total and the direct figure; the remainder is the indirect, or unconjugated, part.
Why are there two names for the same test, such as ALT and SGPT?
SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST. Some laboratories still print both.
One of my results is slightly raised. Is that serious?
MedicDecode cannot tell you. Slightly raised results are common and have many possible explanations, so the right step is to ask the clinician who ordered the test.
Words you may see on this report
Tap a word for its plain-English meaning, an example line and what it does not mean.
- ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
ALT is an enzyme found mainly in the liver; when liver cells are irritated or damaged, more ALT leaks into the blood.
- AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
AST is an enzyme found in the liver, muscles, heart and other tissues; raised levels can signal stress or damage in one of these.
- Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a yellow substance made when old red blood cells break down; the liver processes it so it can leave the body.
- Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product from normal muscle activity that the kidneys filter out, so its blood level helps show how well the kidneys work.
- CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
CRP is a protein made by the liver that rises quickly when there is inflammation or infection in the body.
- Culture and Sensitivity
A culture and sensitivity test grows germs from a sample to identify them, then checks which antibiotics can stop them.
- eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)
eGFR is an estimate of how well your kidneys filter waste from your blood, calculated from a creatinine blood test plus details like age.
- Electrolytes
Electrolytes are minerals in the blood, such as sodium, potassium and chloride, that carry an electric charge and help the body work.
- ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
ESR measures how fast red blood cells sink in a tube of blood over an hour; a faster rate can be a general sign of inflammation.
- Fasting Sample
A fasting sample is blood taken after you have had nothing to eat or drink except water for a set number of hours.
- Ferritin
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron; its blood level gives a good idea of how much iron the body has in reserve.
- HbA1c
HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over roughly the past two to three months by measuring how much sugar is attached to red blood cells.
Medicines connected to this test
Their official labels mention this kind of test. Each is explained in plain English.
- Atorvastatin
a statin, a cholesterol-lowering medicine of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor type
- Divalproex Sodium
An anti-epileptic (anti-seizure) drug of the valproate type. The label also uses it to treat manic episodes of bipolar disorder and to prevent migraine headaches.
- Isoniazid
An antibacterial medicine of the antimycobacterial type, used against tuberculosis bacteria
- Rosuvastatin
a cholesterol-lowering medicine of the statin type (an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor)
- Simvastatin
a cholesterol-lowering medicine of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor type (often called a statin)