Liver Function Tests

What are liver function tests?

Liver function tests, also known as liver chemistries, help determine the health of your liver by measuring the levels of proteins, liver enzymes, and bilirubin in your blood.

A liver function test is often recommended in the following situations:

• to check for damage from liver infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C
• to monitor the side effects of certain medications known to affect the liver
• if you already have a liver disease, to monitor the disease and how well a particular treatment is working
• if you’re experiencing the symptoms of a liver disorder
• if you have certain medical conditions such as high triglycerides, diabetes, high blood pressure, or anemia
• if you drink alcohol heavily
• if you have gallbladder disease

Many tests can be performed on the liver. Certain tests can reflect different aspects of liver function.

Commonly used tests to check liver abnormalities are tests checking:

• alanine transaminase (ALT)
• aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
• alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
• albumin
• bilirubin