ALT
ALANINE TRANSAMINASE (ALT)
An enzyme in your liver. If your
liver is damaged, ALT can leak
into your blood.
What’s normal
Men: 10–40 U/L
Women: 4–19 U/L
What abnormal results can mean:
• Cirrhosis (scarred liver)
• Hepatitis (inflamed liver)
• Hemochromatosis (too much iron)
• Fatty liver disease
• Liver tumor or cancer
• Other liver disease
• Mononucleosis
• Drug use
• Pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas)
U/L = units per liter; g/dL = grams per deciliter; mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter; INR = international normalized ratio
AST
ASPARTATE
TRANSAMINASE (AST)
An enzyme in your liver and muscles. If your liver is damaged, AST can leak into your blood.
What’s normal
10–34 U/L
What abnormal results can mean:
• Cirrhosis (scarred liver)
• Hepatitis (inflamed liver)
• Hemochromatosis (too much iron)
• Liver tumor or cancer
• Other liver disease
• Mononucleosis
• Drug use
• Heart attack
• Pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas)
U/L = units per liter; g/dL = grams per deciliter; mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter; INR = international normalized ratio
ALP
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE (ALP)
An enzyme in your liver, bones, kidneys and digestive system. If your liver is damaged, ALP can leak into your blood.
What’s normal
44–147 U/L
What abnormal results can mean:
• Cirrhosis (scarred liver)
• Hepatitis (inflamed liver)
• Blocked bile duct
• Mononucleosis
If your ALP is high but other liver tests are not, you may have:
• Bone disorder
• Lymphoma
• Heart failure
• Bacterial infection
U/L = units per liter; g/dL = grams per deciliter; mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter; INR = international normalized ratio
GGT
GAMMA-GLUTAMYL
TRANSPEPTIDASE (GGT)
An enzyme in your liver, bile ducts and pancreas. If your liver is damaged or bile ducts are blocked, GGT can build up in your blood.
What’s normal
0–30 U/L
What abnormal results can mean:
• Alcohol use
• Cirrhosis (scarred liver)
• Hepatitis (inflamed liver)
• Liver tumor or cancer
• Other liver disease
• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• Drug use
• Disease of the lung or pancreas
U/L = units per liter; g/dL = grams per deciliter; mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter; INR = international normalized ratio
GLOBU-
LINS
GLOBULINS
Proteins in your liver used to
fight infection and clot blood.
What’s normal
Serum globulin: 2.0–3.5 g/dL
Immunoglobulin M (IgM): 75–300 mg/dL
Immunoglobulin G (IgG): 650–1850 mg/dL
Immunoglobulin A (IgA): 90–350 mg/dL
What abnormal results can mean:
Too low:
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
Too high:
• Infection
• Inflammatory disease
• Immune disorder
• Lymphoma or other cancer
U/L = units per liter; g/dL = grams per deciliter; mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter; INR = international normalized ratio
ALBU-
MIN
ALBUMIN
A protein made in your liver that carries hormones and vitamins through your body.
What’s normal
3.4–5.4 g/dL
What abnormal results can mean:
Too low:
• Cirrhosis (scarred liver)
• Hepatitis (inflamed liver)
• Other liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Intestinal disease
U/L = units per liter; g/dL = grams per deciliter; mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter; INR = international normalized ratio
PRO-
THROMBIN
PROTHROMBIN
A protein made in your liver
that helps clot blood.
(A prothrombin time test measures how long it takes your blood to clot.)
What’s normal
0.8–1.1 INR (or higher if you’re taking blood-thinning medication)
11–13.5 seconds
What abnormal results can mean:
Too high:
• Liver disease
• Bleeding disorder
• Vitamin K deficiency
U/L = units per liter; g/dL = grams per deciliter; mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter; INR = international normalized ratio
BILI-
RUBIN
BILIRUBIN
A yellow fluid in bile, made
when red blood cells break down.
If your liver is damaged, bilirubin
can leak into your blood.
What’s normal
Direct (conjugated) bilirubin: < 0.3 mg/dL
Total bilirubin: 0.1–1.2 mg/dL
What abnormal results can mean:
• Cirrhosis (scarred liver)
• Hepatitis (inflamed liver)
• Other liver disease
• Gallbladder or bile duct disease
U/L = units per liter; g/dL = grams per deciliter; mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter; INR = international normalized ratio
ALT
AST
ALP
GGT
GLOBU-
LINS
ALBU-
MIN
PRO-
THROMBIN
BILI-
RUBIN
What liver
tests measure
