Did you know? At least 1 in 10 people have liver disease in their lifetime. Your liver is the one organ in your body that systematically removes toxins from your body. So when you're consuming alcohol, it helps break down the blood and segregates it from the alcohol to ensure the healthy functioning of your body.
And that's not all! The liver performs more than 500 vital functions, and thus, it's important to take care of this organ. Even experienced doctors recommend getting a liver function test periodically to avoid liver disease and lead a healthy life.
Liver Function Test: Why One Needs It, Types, and More
Liver Function Test, also known as LFT, check the amount of protein, enzymes, and bilirubin in this organ. This test can help rule out the same if you have existing liver disease. If the liver profile test indicates a higher or lower level of these substances, it suggests some issue with the organ.
Your doctor will recommend undergoing an LFT blood tests in the following cases:
- You're showing symptoms of hepatitis B or C that cause damage to the liver.
- Check if your liver is facing the side effects of certain medications, including antibiotics, statins, or medicines for Tuberculosis.
- To monitor and check how they can cure your underlying liver disease.
- To understand if you have a history of fatty liver disease.
- Side effects on the liver due to other diseases like Diabetes, anemia, and high blood pressure.
- Side effects of excess alcohol consumption on the liver organ.
Now that you understand the reasons, it's time to learn about the different types of liver tests your doctor might ask you to undertake:
-
Alanine transaminase (ALT) test
Alanine transaminase (ALT) can get released into the blood instead of metabolizing protein if you suffer from liver damage or liver disease. This increases the ALT levels, which can be determined by undergoing an LFT test.
-
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test
It's an enzyme in various body parts, including the heart, liver, brain, muscles, and pancreas. If you have liver damage, AST can get fused into your bloodstream. A liver function test helps rule our ALT and AST together.
-
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test
It's another enzyme frequently found in your bones, liver, and bile ducts. The ALP liver test constitutes a combination of different liver tests that detect the amount of ALP in your body.
-
Albumin test
Albumin is the protein produced by your liver. With this liver test, your doctor can determine how much production is being met.
-
Bilirubin test
By breaking down red blood cells in the body, bilirubin is discarded by the liver and finally removed from your system by the passage of stool. The liver function test can help check how much bilirubin is being passed out of your body. In case you have a damaged liver, it will be difficult for your liver to pass this through.
Liver Profile Test: An Insight into the Procedure & Test Results
Your healthcare professional will draw blood from a vein in your arm for the liver function test. You might experience bruising and pain on the sight for a few hours, which will typically subside on its own. Once the laboratory experts check your blood sample, you will receive your test reports via email and SMS within 24 - 48 hours.
Your test report should have all levels indicated as normal to rule out any signs of liver disease. Moreover, if only one of the levels is higher, it is no cause for concern. However, if your doctor sees abnormalities on several levels, they will recommend a proper diagnosis.
Why Consult HealthcareOnTime for a Liver Profile Test?
HealthcareonTime is a NABL/ISO-accredited diagnostic center having more than 20,000 collection centers across India. Our LFT test price is quite affordable compared to others in the market, so rest assured that our liver function test price will not put a dent in your pocket under any circumstances.
