What Is The Alanine Aminotransferase Test (ALT)

An alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test weighs the level of ALT in your blood. ALT is commonly present in your liver, but in the case of damaged or inflamed liver, ALT is found in your bloodstream. As a result, your serum ALT level elevated. Your doctor recommends this ALT blood test to see how your liver is performing or determine the underlying cause of your liver problems. An ALT test usually belongs to the part of the screen tests for liver disease. ALT test is also known as a serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) test or an alanine transaminase test.

The cost of an ALT blood test is Rs.60- Rs.200, depending on your location and place.

Please check the price of the ALT blood best in Delhi/NCR, your nearby centers and other details.

Summary of Alanine Aminotransferase Test

Purpose of an ALT Test

Your doctor will suggest this ALT test to check how your liver is functioning. Some people perform this test as part of a metabolic panel. A doctor suggests this test if you are suffering from various symptoms of liver disease or damage. These symptoms could be,

• Yellow eyes and skin (jaundice)
• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Pain in the right shoulder
• Easy bleeding or bruising
• Severe itching
• Clay-colored stools
• Inflammation in the legs or abdomen

These symptoms indicate that you are having liver problems. Healthcare conditions that can cause elevated ALT levels include are,

• Hepatitis
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• Cirrhosis
• Celiac disease
• Thyroid disorders
• Preeclampsia in pregnant or immediately postpartum women
• Some infections, including mononucleosis and sepsis
• Wilson’s disease
• Polymyositis
• Liver cancer
• Some medicines may also uplift your ALT levels

When a doctor identifies a liver injury early, he goes for the proper line of treatment to prevent further injury.

People at risk of liver damage or disease include

• Those who have a family history of liver disease
• People who have diabetes
• People who are obese
• People who consume a lot of alcoholic beverages
• People who take certain medications

Preparation Of An ALT Test

This test doesn’t demand any special preparation. But if you are taking any medications for your underlying diseases, you must inform the doctor about the same. Some medications may hamper the test results of ALT. Your doctor might advise you in reducing the dosage of the medication or may stop it temporarily before the test.

Procedure of an ALT Test

• First, a healthcare professional will clean the area of your hand before taking the sample.
• Then, he will tie an elastic band around your upper arm to identify your vein
• Now, he will insert a needle to collect your blood sample
• Your blood sample will be collected in a tube
• Once the process is finished, the healthcare professional will remove the elastic band and the needle.
• He will place gauze or bandage at the puncture site
• Your sample will be sent to the laboratory for further analysis.

Interpreting Test Results of Alanine Aminotransferase

Normal Results

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, the normal values for ALT in the blood are,

29 to 33 international units per liter (IU/L) (for males)

 19 to 25 IU/L (for females)

ALT levels may vary from lab to lab.

The test results can be affected by several factors including sex and age.

Abnormal Results

ALT blood test high value may indicate liver damage. Elevated levels of ALT could be the result of

• Hepatitis (chronic inflammation of the liver)
• Cirrhosis (severe scarring of the liver)
• Death of liver tissue
• Liver cancer or tumor
• Inadequate blood flow to the liver
• Hemochromatosis (a disorder where iron gets built up in the body)
• Mononucleosis
• Diabetes

Though lower ALT values indicate a healthy liver, still, you may have some underlying health conditions that need to be discussed with your doctor.