Prothrombin is a protein involved in blood clotting. It's made in your liver. Other names: liver panel, liver function panel, liver profile hepatic function panel, LFT.

What are they used for? Why do I need liver function testing? What happens during a liver function test? Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test? Are there any risks to the test? What do the results mean? In general, the results of your liver function tests can tell you if: Your liver is inflamed, which means you have hepatitis.

You have hepatitis from drinking alcohol or other causes, such as infection. Your liver isn't working well and how weak it has become. You have a problem with your bile ducts.

Bile is a digestive "juice" that your liver makes. Bile ducts are the tubes that carry bile through your liver and out of your liver.

Medicines are harming your liver and how serious the damage is. References Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Cleveland OH : Cleveland Clinic; c Liver Function Tests; [reviewed Nov 9; cited May 31]; [about 11 screens]. In: StatPearls [Internet].

Treasure Island FL : StatPearls Publishing; Jan-. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c Liver Function Tests; [cited Jun 1]; [about 12 screens]. Liver Function Tests; [reviewed Sep; cited Jun 1]; [about 3 screens].

Bethesda MD : U. Department of Health and Human Services; NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: bile duct; [cited May 31]; [about 1 screen].

Jacksonville FL : The Nemours Foundation; c Blood Test: Liver Function Tests; [cited Nov]; [about 3 screens]. html Testing. com [Internet]. Medical Encyclopedia. Updated January 24, Accessed September 28, Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase GGT Blood Test. Updated January 17, Prothrombin Time PT.

Updated January 19, Total Protein. Updated May 1, Akbas N, Gonzalez G, Edwards R, Devaraj S. Assessment of Liver Function Tests on Piccolo Xpress Point of Care Chemistry Analyzer in a Pediatric Hospital. Pract Lab Med. Published Oct 3. ARUP Consult. Liver Disease Evaluation. Updated June Friedman LS.

Approach to the Patient With Abnormal Liver Biochemical and Function Tests. In: Chopra S, ed. Updated April 5, Enzymatic Measures of Cholestasis e. Updated July 28, Liver Biochemical Tests That Detect Injury to Hepatocytes.

Updated March 4, Kwo PY, Cohen SM, Lim JK. ACG Clinical Guideline: Evaluation of Abnormal Liver Chemistries. Am J Gastroenterol. Lindenmeyer CC. Liver Blood Tests. Merck Manual Consumer Edition.

Updated September Laboratory Tests of the Liver and Gallbladder. Merck Manual Professional Edition. MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine. Albumin Blood Test. Updated June 7, Alkaline Phosphatase. Updated August 3, ALT Blood Test. AST Test.

Updated April 8, Bilirubin Blood Test. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel CMP. Updated September 9, Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase GGT Test. Updated November 16, Globulin Test. Updated April 7, Lactate Dehydrogenase LDH Test. Updated December 17, Liver Function Tests. Updated September 16, This form enables patients to ask specific questions about lab tests.

Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 9. Pratt DS. Liver chemistry and function tests. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds.

Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. Reviewed by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C.

Changes in certain levels of proteins or enzymes can alert doctors of potential problems such as liver cancer, fatty liver disease, or hepatitis. Liver function tests can also help determine if certain medications are damaging your liver or help you monitor the progression of liver disease.

After you get a liver function test, your doctor can help you interpret the results and discuss what the results mean for you. If they suspect you have liver disease, you may need to undergo other tests such as imaging or a liver biopsy. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Liver Function Tests: Purpose and Procedure. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Uses Types Interpreting results Liver disorder symptoms Test prep Test procedure Next steps Takeaway Liver function tests are blood tests that can be used to monitor the health of your liver.

When is a liver function test used? Share on Pinterest Medical Illustration by Bailey Mariner. What are the different types of liver function tests? Interpreting the results of a liver function test.

Liver test Indications Typical and atypical ranges ALT test A higher result than typical on this test can be a sign of liver damage. AST test A high result on an AST test might indicate a problem with your liver or muscles.

Elevated AST without elevated ALT may indicate heart or muscle disease. If ALT, bilirubin, and ALP are also elevated, it may indicate liver damage. ALP test High levels of ALP may indicate liver inflammation, blockage of the bile ducts , or bone disease.

Children and adolescents may have elevated levels of ALP because their bones are growing. Pregnancy can also raise ALP levels. This occurs in diseases such as cirrhosis , malnutrition , and cancer. However, low albumin can also be a result of poor nutrition, kidney disease, infection, and inflammation.

Elevated bilirubin levels with elevated ALT or AST may suggest cirrhosis or hepatitis. The typical range for total bilirubin is usually 0.

The comprehensive liver panel you can order online for lab testing does require fasting for 12 to 14 hours. For at-home finger-prick liver tests, be sure to read the instructions carefully so you know whether the preparation is required.

A routine blood draw is all that is required to perform a liver panel. With a small needle, blood is drawn from a vein in your arm into a vial and analyzed by a lab. The phlebotomist will carefully clean the area first with antiseptic, and you might feel a sting when the needle is inserted or removed.

You could experience mild bruising or soreness after the test like if you were getting blood drawn for any other medical panel. The entire process takes no more than five minutes. At-home tests require a finger prick.

The kit will include a lancet or small needle. It takes less than a minute to gather your sample and prepare the dry blood card for the lab.

There are no restrictions after getting blood drawn for a liver panel, but if you fasted for 12 to 14 hours prior to the lab test, you will probably feel weak or fatigued. Consider bringing a snack for after your test. You can return to standard activities.

Depending on what type of liver panel you get, you can expect test results within one to two business days for an expanded panel that measures enzymes and proteins. It many take one to two days for a comprehensive panel that assesses enzymes and proteins to determine liver function, including GGT and LD.

The comprehensive panel is also called hepatic function testing. Lab result times can vary, so ask the clinician in advance how long it will take. Even at-home tests that use a finger prick to collect a blood sample will take a few business days from the time the lab receives your sample before you get results.

The speed of results can also depend on how you get them. Labs deliver results in a number of ways, including confidential phone calls, secure emails, or via an app. Your liver panel test results will depend on the type of test. You will see some reference ranges to understand what levels are considered abnormal.

Always discuss these results with a medical professional so you can ask questions and gain a clear understanding of the report, its information, and the next steps.

When test results are abnormal, doctors often look for certain patterns of abnormalities in the specific levels that were detected. Your doctor will look at these test results and take into account your health, symptoms, and medical and family history. Any drugs you take are also considered since some medications can impact test results.

Liver panel results are complex, so always review results with a medical professional who understands your case and can answer your questions.

Here are some to ask:. Medical Encyclopedia. Updated January 24, Accessed September 28, Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase GGT Blood Test. Updated January 17, Prothrombin Time PT. Updated January 19, Total Protein. Updated May 1, Akbas N, Gonzalez G, Edwards R, Devaraj S. Assessment of Liver Function Tests on Piccolo Xpress Point of Care Chemistry Analyzer in a Pediatric Hospital.

Pract Lab Med. Published Oct 3. ARUP Consult. Liver Disease Evaluation. Updated June Friedman LS. Approach to the Patient With Abnormal Liver Biochemical and Function Tests.

In: Chopra S, ed. Updated April 5, Enzymatic Measures of Cholestasis e. Updated July 28, Liver Biochemical Tests That Detect Injury to Hepatocytes. Updated March 4, Kwo PY, Cohen SM, Lim JK.

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