Introduction:
The liver is a very important organ in our body, which handles many life-saving functions, such as digesting food, storing energy, removing toxins from the body and cleaning the blood. If there is a problem with the functioning of the liver, it can affect the entire body. The main test done to assess the health of the liver is called liver function test (LFT).
What is liver function test (LFT)?
Transaminase experiment (lft) is just a gang of the several complete blood count ( cbc the said decide if the pancreas would be operating perfectly or not. this exam could really appear to suggest inflammatory, infectious disease, destruction and other ailments inside the digestive system.
LFT test list:
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
Albumin
Bilirubin (total and direct)
Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)
Total protein
Each of these parameters indicates a specific type of liver function or damage.
Under what circumstances is LFT performed?
Diagnosis of Liver Diseases:
Doctors recommend LFT if the patient experiences symptoms like jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), excessive fatigue, swollen abdomen, vomiting, loss of appetite or dark urine. These symptoms may be a sign of liver damage or infection.
Monitoring Chronic Liver Disease:
If the person is already suffering from any chronic liver disease like hepatitis B or C, fatty liver, cirrhosis, etc., regular LFT is necessary to monitor liver function.
Evaluating the effect of medications:
Certain medications can have an adverse effect on the liver. If a patient has been taking medications for a long time that affect the liver (such as tuberculosis or antifungal medications), doctors order LFTs to check the health of the liver.
Evaluating alcohol abuse:
Excessive alcohol consumption can damage the liver. In such cases, LFTs are performed to assess the state of liver damage.
Before surgery or other medical procedures:
Before a major operation, especially where anesthesia is required, doctors order LFTs to ensure that the patient's liver can process the medications.
Routine health checkups:
Nowadays, LFTs are also included in many health checkup packages to detect any liver problems at an early stage.
Significance of the main components checked in LFT:
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT):
This enzyme is found primarily in the liver. If ALT levels are elevated, it usually indicates liver injury or inflammation.
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST):
This enzyme has been discovered not only in the digestive system, but also in heart muscle as well as other organ systems. Elevated levels of AST can also indicate liver damage, but can also be elevated in other diseases.
Albumin and total protein:
This digestive enzyme actually serves to provide transcription factors.
Bilirubin:
It is formed when red blood cells are broken down by the liver and removed from the body. Liver disease causes an increase in the amount of liver enzymes in the body.
Gamma-glutamyl esterase (GGT):
Elevated levels of liver enzymes may be a sign of gallstone disease and the neurotoxic effects of alcohol.
How to understand 'sharing' findings?
The feature of the normal but not abnormal range is that even the average limits of sharing reports are based only on the given variables. For example:
Normal level of ALT: 7 to 56 units/liter
Normal level of AST: 10 to 40 units/liter
Normal level of ALP: 44 to 147 units/liter
Bilirubin (total): 0.1 to 1.2 mg/dL
If any of the parameters are out of range, it does not necessarily mean that there is a serious illness, but it may be a sign that further investigation is needed. The doctor makes an overall assessment of the patient based on his symptoms, medical history and other tests.
How to prepare for LFT?
For some LFTs, fasting on an empty stomach may be necessary (fasting for 8-12 hours).
It may be advisable to stop consuming drugs and alcohol before the test.
It is important to take proper instructions from the doctor before the test.
Conclusion:
Liver function test (LFT) is an extremely important test that helps evaluate the health of the liver. It not only helps in diagnosing the disease but also plays an important role in preventing serious complications by initiating timely treatment. If you notice any liver-related symptoms or your doctor advises, it is wise to get LFT done without delay. Proper functioning of the liver is very important for a healthy life.
"When should liver function test (LFT) be done, what is its fee and what is the normal range of all the tests included in it?"
1. When should LFT (liver function test) be done?
LFTs are needed if:
The skin and eyes turn yellow, also known as signs of jaundice
Pain, swelling or heaviness in the abdomen
Persistent loss of appetite or weight loss
Extreme fatigue or weakness
Frequent vomiting or nausea
Urine color turns dark yellow or brown
Excessive alcohol consumption
Pre-existing liver disease (such as hepatitis, cirrhosis)
Taking long-term medication that can affect the liver (such as TB drugs)
Before any surgery or as part of a routine health check-up
Obese or diabetic patients also sometimes need to get liver tests done (for fatty liver)
👉 In simple words:
If there are symptoms of a liver problem or the doctor advises, LFTs should be done without delay.
2. What is the fee for LFT?
City/Location Estimated Fee (INR)
Small cities/general laboratories ₹300 – ₹600
Big cities/good laboratories ₹600 – ₹1200
Superspeciality hospitals or premium laboratories ₹800 – ₹1500
Tip:
Many health packages include LFT, which may make the test slightly cheaper.
Government hospitals or medical camps may charge a very nominal fee or may even be free.
Collecting the sample from home may cost ₹100-200 extra.
LFT tests include the following main tests and their normal ranges:
Test Name Normal Range
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) 7 - 56 units/L
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) 10 - 40 units/L
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) 44 - 147 units/L
Total Bilirubin (Total Bilirubin) 0.1 - 1.2 mg/dL
Direct Bilirubin (Direct Bilirubin) 0.0 - 0.3 mg/dL
Indirect Bilirubin (Indirect Bilirubin) 0.2 - 0.9 mg/dL
Albumin (Albumin) 3.5 - 5.5 g/dL
Total Protein (Total Protein) 6.0 - 8.3 g/dL
GGT (Gamma Glutamyltransferase) 9 - 48 units per liter
Note:
The test normal VALUE may vary slightly from all lab to lab.
Age, gender, and health status can also affect this range.
