Alanine transaminase (ALT) blood test

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is needed.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain?. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

ALT is an enzyme found in a high level in the liver. Injury to the liver results in release of ALT into the blood.

This test is used to determine if a person has liver damage.

Normal Results

The normal range is:

• Male: 10 to 40 U/L
• Female: 7 to 35 U/L

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

An increased ALT level is usually a sign of liver disease. Liver disease is even more likely when the levels of substances checked by other liver blood tests have also increased.

An increased ALT level may be due to any of the following:

• Scarring of the liver ( diagnosis?. সহজ বাংলা: লিভারে দীর্ঘমেয়াদি দাগ/ক্ষতি।" data-rx-term="cirrhosis" data-rx-definition="Cirrhosis means long-term liver scarring and damage. This term describes one part of the medical picture. Its importance depends on the body area involved, severity, duration, associated symptoms, examination findings, medical history, medicines, and relevant tests. A healthcare professional interprets it together with the complete clinical situation rather than using the word alone as a final diagnosis. সহজ বাংলা: লিভারে দীর্ঘমেয়াদি দাগ/ক্ষতি।">cirrhosis? )
• Death of liver tissue
• Swollen and inflamed liver ( diagnosis?. সহজ বাংলা: লিভারের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="hepatitis" data-rx-definition="Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. This term describes one part of the medical picture. Its importance depends on the body area involved, severity, duration, associated symptoms, examination findings, medical history, medicines, and relevant tests. A healthcare professional interprets it together with the complete clinical situation rather than using the word alone as a final diagnosis. সহজ বাংলা: লিভারের প্রদাহ।">hepatitis? )
• Too much iron in the body ( hemochromatosis )
• Too much fat in the liver (fatty liver)
• Lack of blood flow to the liver (liver ischemia?)
• Liver tumor or cancer
• Use of drugs that are toxic to the liver
• Mononucleosis (“mono”)
• Swollen and inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)

Risks

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:

• Bleeding from where the needle was inserted
• Fainting or feeling lightheaded
• Hematoma (blood collecting under the skin)
• fever?, pain?, swelling?, cough, diarrhea?, discharge, or unusual tiredness, depending on the site. The cause and severity determine whether supportive care, antimicrobial treatment, drainage, testing, or urgent assessment is appropriate; antibiotics do not treat viral? infections. সহজ বাংলা: জীবাণু শরীরে বেড়ে রোগ করা।" data-rx-term="infection" data-rx-definition="Infection means germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites are growing in the body. An infection may remain in one area or affect several body systems. Possible features include fever, pain, swelling, cough, diarrhea, discharge, or unusual tiredness, depending on the site. The cause and severity determine whether supportive care, antimicrobial treatment, drainage, testing, or urgent assessment is appropriate; antibiotics do not treat viral infections. সহজ বাংলা: জীবাণু শরীরে বেড়ে রোগ করা।">Infection? (rare)