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What we measure
This test measures key proteins, enzymes, and substances made by the liver. These readings can help to indicate whether the liver is healthy and working as it should. The liver is one of the most important organs in your body: it’s responsible for removing waste, converting food into energy, and supporting the immune system.
This test can help indicate if you have liver damage or disease.
Your liver is a vital organ, alongside the brain and heart. It carries out over 500 functions, including removing toxins from your body and keeping your blood sugar levels in check. It’s probably best known for its role in breaking down substances that are poisonous to the body, such as alcohol.
The liver can regenerate itself when it’s damaged, but it isn’t invincible. Some diseases, such as hepatitis, can harm the liver beyond the point where it can repair itself. Excessive alcohol misuse and unhealthy lifestyle habits can do the same.
A test may be recommended if you have symptoms of liver disease or have a higher risk of it developing. Most liver diseases don’t have symptoms in their early stages, but if they do occur, they can include jaundice, nausea and vomiting, changes in appetite, abdominal pain, dark-coloured urine, light-coloured stool, or fatigue.
Tests can also be used to monitor how well treatment for liver disease is going and to evaluate the extent of liver damage.
Your results:
what to expect
Your results will tell you how much of each substance measured is present in your blood and whether this falls within a normal range.
Liver problems can be indicated by higher-than-normal levels of ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, or GGT; and/or lower-than-normal levels of albumin and total protein or globulin.
A blood test is used to investigate liver health but can’t diagnose disease on its own. If your readings fall outside the normal range, it’s recommended that you discuss them with a doctor as sometimes abnormal readings could be due to other factors. For example, high ALT can also be caused by swelling of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
Need help? Speak with an expert
Don’t quite understand your results or simply want to see a doctor? We’ve got you sorted.
Speak to a GP
Book an online consultation with one of our GPs. We offer consultations in both English and Chinese.
Just fill out an online form and find a time that’s convenient.
Get a private prescription
Need to get your medication? Our GPs can write private prescriptions.
Tell the GP what the problem is during your consultation and they’ll take it from there. Prescriptions can be picked up at your local pharmacy.
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FAQs
There’s no fixed amount of time you should avoid alcohol for before the test, but if you are going to drink then it’s important that you stay within the recommended guidelines of 14 units of alcohol per week for adults in the UK.
This is because drinking above these limits can affect the liver, and therefore cause abnormal results.
While at high doses paracetamol can increase levels of GGT, when it’s taken within the recommended safe guidelines it generally should not have any major effects on liver function test results. So, unless you’ve specifically been told not to take it, there’s no need to avoid using paracetamol.
Yes, you’ll need to abstain from eating or drinking anything except water for 10-12 hours before the test. The blood test takes only a few minutes and you can eat right after it’s done.
Yes, our liver function tests are safe to take and accurate. We’re CQC registered, which is a quality mark for healthcare you can trust, and UKAS accredited. All of our tests are validated by HCPC scientists and GMC registered doctors.
Liver blood tests are used to investigate liver health but can’t diagnose disease in themselves. Sometimes, other (non-liver) factors can cause abnormal readings, so it’s important that you discuss your results with a doctor who can investigate further.
As it stands, however, liver blood tests are one of the best tools we have for identifying liver problems.
Blood tests can identify signs that your liver isn’t working as it should be but can’t diagnose disease on their own.
Only a doctor can diagnose you with liver disease. They’ll consider your results and may suggest more tests to investigate further. For example, they might want to rule out certain factors that could have contributed to your results or to further evaluate your liver via different types of tests.
You’ll need to fast (not eat or drink anything except water) for 10-12 hours before the test. Let your health provider know if you’re taking any medicines ahead of the test.
You may be at a higher risk of liver disease if you:
- Have a family history of liver disease
- Think you may have been exposed to a hepatitis virus
- Take medicines that may cause toxic liver damage. This includes taking too much paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin
- Have an eating disorder
- Drink alcohol regularly or are a binge drinker
- Have had gallstones
- Have had gastrointestinal disease, such as irritable bowel syndrome
- Take performance-enhancing drugs, like steroids or creatine
