Aspartate aminotransferase, serum
Clinical Background:
AST is an intracellular enzyme present in both cytoplasm and mitochondria. It is widely distributed throughout the body’s tissues, with the greatest amounts in cardiac muscle, liver, skeletal muscl...
AST is an intracellular enzyme present in both cytoplasm and mitochondria. It is widely distributed throughout the body’s tissues, with the greatest amounts in cardiac muscle, liver, skeletal muscle and the kidneys. It is a key enzyme in gluconeogenesis. AST is used to identify tissue damage e.g. arising from damage to cardiac muscle (typically ischaemic in origin), damage to skeletal muscle (e.g. rhabdomyolysis) and liver cell inflammation or necrosis. The major disadvantage of AST as an indicator of tissue damage is its lack of specificity to any one tissue. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is to be preferred as an indicator of liver cell damage. AST present in the plasma is presumed to be derived from the normal turnover of tissue cells; increased quantities are found in tissue damage (particularly hepatic and cardiac and skeletal muscle damage)
Test Details
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Discipline:
Biochemistry
Biochemistry
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Specimen Container Adult:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Serum (SST or plain tube)
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Specimen Container Paediatric:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Serum (SST or plain tube)
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Minimum Volume Adult:
1 mL blood
1 mL blood
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Minimum Volume Paediatric:
0.5 mL blood
0.5 mL blood
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Sample Stability:
Unseparated sample: 3 days
Separated sample:
- 4 days at 15-25C
- 7 days at 4ºC
- 3 months at -20C
Unseparated sample: 3 days
Separated sample:
- 4 days at 15-25C
- 7 days at 4ºC
- 3 months at -20C
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Reference Ranges:
0 - 40 U/L
0 - 40 U/L
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Other Info:
lithium heparin plasma sample also acceptable
lithium heparin plasma sample also acceptable
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Routine Contact Name:
Duty Biochemist
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Routine Telephone:
Freeman: 0191 244 8889
RVI: 0191 282 9719Freeman: 0191 244 8889
RVI: 0191 282 9719 -
Routine Email: