Liver Function Test (Private LFT Test)

Liver Profile Blood Tests assess the liver function and can detect whether there is any damage or inflammation to the liver. The test looks at ALP (alkaline phosphatase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), Gamma GT (Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase), and Bilirubin levels in your blood to evaluate liver function.

The tests measure how well the liver performs its normal functions of producing protein and clearing out bilirubin, a blood waste product. Other test markers include the presence of enzymes released by liver cells in response to damage or disease.

When combined, these tests give an overview of the health of the liver, detect any liver injury and changes to the liver over time. An LFT is made up of a collection of liver screening tests based upon a blood sample which is analysed by specialists in a lab.

The liver can experience damage, inflammation, scarring, obstructions, clotting issues, and dysfunction. Therefore, it makes sense to check on your liver health and function, should you have any concerns. Whether or not you have experienced symptoms, early detection of liver dysfunction and disease is essential to minimise damage. By the time symptoms appear, damage to the liver may already have taken place.

If you have experienced the following symptoms, a Liver Profile Blood Test is advised:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling
• Swelling in legs and ankles
• Jaundice (yellow tinge to the skin and eyes)
• Skin bruises easily
• Dark urine
• Pale stool
• Itching

Individuals at a higher risk of liver dysfunction and disease may benefit from an LFT. Factors that may increase the risk of developing liver disease and other related problems include:

• Alcohol abuse or heavy use
• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes
• Family history of liver disease
• Using shared needles when injecting drugs
• Tattoos
• Body piercings
• Blood transfusion prior to 1992
• Exposure to other individual’s blood and body fluids
• Unprotected sex
• Exposure to chemicals or toxins

The Liver Function Test consists of several tests from your blood sample. The tests look at the presence of certain chemical markers that can tell you about the state of your liver health and function. The following chemicals are included in the analysis:

• ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase): these enzymes are present in liver cells and other tissues in the body. Inflammation in the liver can cause their levels to rise. Certain liver infections such as hepatitis A, B and C or excessive alcohol consumption can trigger an increase in ALT and AST levels.
• ALP (alkaline phosphatase): another enzyme found in liver cells, levels of ALP can increase with liver conditions such as gallstones.
• GGT (gamma glutamyltransferase): GGT levels also rise when gallstones cause an obstruction to the bile duct. Alcohol abuse can also cause GGT levels to increase.
• Albumin: made by the liver, albumin is a protein that decreases if the liver is not functioning as it should or if inflammation is present.
• Bilirubin: this yellowish substance is produced when red blood cells are broken down. Excessive amounts of bilirubin on the skin and whites of the eyes appear as jaundice. Increased levels of bilirubin in the blood can be brought on by alcohol abuse, gallstones or liver infections such as hepatitis.

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