Liver function test is a set of blood tests used to monitor the working of the liver or to screen the liver damage or inflammation. This test helps in diagnosing a liver disease or liver condition. This test also measures the amount of certain enzymes and proteins in the blood. Some of these tests are helpful in estimating the performance of the liver functions like producing proteins, clearing of waste products in blood like bilirubin and some tests are used to measure the amount of enzymes that are produced by the liver which may indicate damage of the liver.
What is liver and it's functions?
The liver is the vital organ present in your body. It is reddish brown in color which may weigh around 3 pounds. The gallbladder is attached at the bottom of the liver along with pancreas and intestines. Liver and these organs help in digestion, absorption, and processing of food. The liver filters the blood which comes from the digestive tract and transports the filtered blood to the remaining parts of the body. The liver also makes proteins which are used for blood clotting and also albumin an important protein in blood serum which transports fatty acids and steroids. It also absorbs and metabolizes bilirubin. Bilirubin is formed as the result of the breakdown of hemoglobin, liver stores the iron released by hemoglobin and utilizes it to make the next generation of red blood cells. It also helps in fat metabolization by breaking down fats and making them digest easily. Liver stores carbohydrates which can be broken down into glucose and later used as energy when needed. It also filters blood from waste products, including alcohol and other drugs. Vitamin A, D, E, K, and B12 are stored by the liver.
Importance of liver function test:
Liver function tests are mainly used to estimate the severity of a disease like alcoholic hepatitis or viral hepatitis, to detect liver infections like hepatitis or scarring of a liver (cirrhosis), to know the effectiveness of a treatment, to detect the side effects of certain medicines.
Liver function tests include the following tests:
Why this test is performed?
This test may be recommended to you if you experience certain symptoms like dark colored urine, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, yellow color skin and eyes, light colored or bloody stools, swollen abdomen, fluid accumulation in abdomen (ascites), pain in abdomen, tiredness, weight loss or weight gain, etc. This test may also be recommended if you have a history of viral hepatitis or a family history of liver disease, drinking too much alcohol or on a medication which may damage your liver function.
Pathology test parameters
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your LFT Test. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for LFT Test.
Since some foods and medicines may interfere with your test results, It Depends on your doctor may ask you to fast for 10 to 12 hours or to do after food prior to the test without taking food, drinks or medicines.
The normal test results may vary depending on gender, age, health history, etc.
If you get abnormal test results, consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend other tests depending on your results.
Gender | Age groups | Value |
MALE | All age groups | 7 to 55 units per litre |
MALE | All age groups | 8 to 48 U/L |
MALE | All age groups | 45 - 115U/L |
MALE | All age groups | 3.5 - 5 g/dl |
MALE | All age groups | 6.3 - 7.9g/dl |
MALE | All age groups | 0.1 - 1.2 mg/dl |
MALE | All age groups | 9 - 48U/L |
MALE | All age groups | 122 - 222U/L |
MALE | All age groups | 9.5 - 13.8 seconds |