Test Details

• Discipline:

  Biochemistry

  Biochemistry

• Specimen Container Adult:

  Serum-SST

  Serum-SST

• Specimen Container Paediatric:

  Serum-Plain tube

  Serum-Plain tube

• Minimum Volume Adult:

  1 mL blood

  1 mL blood

• Minimum Volume Paediatric:

  0.5 mL blood

  0.5 mL blood

• Sample Stability:

  Unseparated: 4 days.

  Separated:

  7 days at 4ºC

  3 days at 15-25C

  Unseparated: 4 days.

  Separated:

  7 days at 4ºC

  3 days at 15-25C

• Interpretation:

  ALT is used to identify liver damage e.g. arising from liver cell
  inflammation or necrosis, significant increases in its plasma
  activity are rarely seen other than in liver disease. It may be mea...

  ALT is used to identify liver damage e.g. arising from liver cell
  inflammation or necrosis, significant increases in its plasma
  activity are rarely seen other than in liver disease. It may be measured
  both in patients with clinical features suggestive of liver disease and in
  patients at risk of developing liver disease.
  This latter category includes individuals with:
  • a high alcohol intake
  • a history of known or possible exposure to hepatitis viruses
  • obesity or diabetes
  • a history of consumption of potentially hepatotoxic drugs
  • a family history of liver disease.
  ALT is measured as an index of liver damage for which it is
  more specific than aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Values >20x the
  upper limit of normal may occur with severe liver damage. Smaller
  increments (usually <5xULN) may occur in cholestasis, due to secondary
  damage to hepatocytes.
  In established liver disease, a falling ALT value usually reflects
  decreasing cell damage, but may occasionally be a consequence of such
  massive destruction that, with clearance of the enzyme, even continuing
  damage does not maintain high levels.
  In the context of liver disease, measuring both ALT and AST provides
  little additional information over that provided by measuring either one.
  There are two exceptions: in fatty liver disease, an activity ratio AST/ALT
  of >2 suggests alcohol as a cause; a ratio of ≤1 is suggestive of a non‐
  alcoholic cause.

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• Reference Ranges:

  All ages: 0 - 40 U/L

  All ages: 0 - 40 U/L

• Factors Affecting Result:

  Haemolysis.
  In very rare cases gammopathy, in particular type IgM (Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia), may cause unreliable results

  Haemolysis.
  In very rare cases gammopathy, in particular type IgM (Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia), may cause unreliable results

• Other Info:

  Plasma- Lithium Heparin also acceptable

  Plasma- Lithium Heparin also acceptable

• Routine Contact Name:

  Duty Biochemist

• Routine Telephone:

  Freeman: 0191 244 8889
  RVI: 0191 282 9719

  Freeman: 0191 244 8889
  RVI: 0191 282 9719

• Routine Email:

  nuth.dutybiochemist@nhs.net