What Is An AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) Test?

An AST test evaluates the amount of aspartate transferase in your bloodstream. Your doctor will recommend this AST blood test to diagnose whether you have any liver problems or not. Through this test, you can get an idea of your overall health conditions also.

In case of any injury or disease, AST can leak into your bloodstream. As a result, high AST levels in your blood sample could be a sign of an underlying medical condition (mostly a liver disease). Your AST level may be elevated due to various types of liver conditions; thus healthcare providers don’t refer to this test alone. This test is an integral part of your liver enzyme panel (HFP) or a comprehensive metabolic panel.

The cost of the AST test is Rs.50 to Rs.150, depending on your location and place.

Please check the price of the AST test in Delhi/NCR, your nearby centers and other details.

Test Summary

Why do you need this AST test?

You may need this test as a part of your routine healthcare checkup. If you are experiencing any symptoms of liver disease, then this test should be done at any cost. Some of the symptoms could be:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abrupt weight loss
• Tiredness
• Feebleness
• Jaundice where your skin and eyes turn yellow
• Inflammation and pain in your abdomen
• Swelling in your ankles and legs
• Dark-colored urine
• Clay-colored stool
• Frequent itching

Sometimes, your healthcare professional will suggest this AST blood test if you are at a higher risk of liver disease. Risk factors for the liver disease could be

• A family history of liver disease
• Unrestricted drinking
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Taking certain medicines that could damage your liver

Read More : A Simple Guide To SGOT Blood Test

The Preparation for the AST Test

To perform this test, you may not need any special preparation. But several medications and supplements may hamper your AST levels, so consult your healthcare professional about any drugs or dietary supplements that you are consuming. Your doctor may ask you to stop the dosage of the medications before the test. But stop medications only if your doctor recommends them.

The AST Test Procedure

• After reaching a lab or hospital, an experienced nurse or technician will check your arms to get easy access to your vein.
• Once he has identified a vein, he will clean and disinfect the area with an antiseptic
• He will insert a needle into your vein to collect your blood sample.
• A small amount of blood will be collected in a test tube
• Once the sample is collected, he will remove the needle and place a bandage over the site.
• The entire procedure gets completed within five minutes.

The Interpretation of the Result

AST levels may vary from laboratory to laboratory. One common reference range for an AST blood test is 8 to 33 U/L (units per liter). Your AST level may change depending on multifarious factors, including

• Your age
• Your sex
• Your race
• Your weight

A high AST level may indicate you have the below-mentioned health conditions:

• Alcohol-induced liver injury
• Hepatitis or liver inflammation)
• Cirrhosis or scarring of the liver)
• Taking medications that may damage your liver
• Liver tumor or liver cancer
• Liver ischemia (your liver is not getting adequate blood flow which leads to death of liver tissue)

Your AST level may also be high due to other healthcare conditions

• Hemochromatosis (If you have adequate iron in your body that can damage your heart, liver and pancreas)
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Mononucleosis
• Muscle disease
• Pancreatitis

Sometimes, your AST level may elevate due to certain health conditions like

• Intense burns
• Seizure
• Heart procedures
• Surgery
• Severe exercise

Pregnant women may also have higher levels of AST in their blood.