ALT vs AST: What Is the Difference in Liver Blood Tests?
ALT and AST are two liver enzymes often reported together on a liver panel, but they do not tell the same story. ALT is...
Amylase Blood Test Normal Range: Reference Values and Meaning
An amylase blood test measures the amount of amylase enzyme circulating in your blood. Amylase helps digest starches and other carbohydrates, and most of...
APRI Score Test: AST-to-Platelet Ratio Index, Liver Fibrosis Score, Calculator, and Results
The APRI score is a simple liver fibrosis score calculated from two common blood test results: AST and platelet count. It was developed to...
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Normal Range: Reference Values and Meaning
Aspartate aminotransferase, usually called AST, is an enzyme measured in blood tests to look for signs of liver cell irritation or injury. It is...
AST/ALT Ratio and GGT: Interpreting Alcohol-Related Liver Patterns
AST, ALT, and GGT are common liver-related blood tests, but their pattern often says more than any single number. A higher AST than ALT,...
AST/ALT Ratio Test: High Ratio, Liver Disease Patterns, Alcohol-Related Liver Injury, and Meaning
The AST/ALT ratio compares two liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), to see which one is higher and by how much....
Bilirubin and Liver Enzymes: Interpreting Jaundice Blood Tests
Jaundice is the yellow color that can appear in the eyes or skin when bilirubin builds up in the blood. A bilirubin result by...
Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) Test: Alcohol Use Marker, Liver Risk, Normal Range, and Results
Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, usually called CDT, is a blood test that can help identify sustained heavy alcohol use over the past several weeks. It is...
Cholinesterase Blood Test: Low Cholinesterase, Liver Function, Pesticide Exposure, and Results
A cholinesterase blood test measures enzyme activity related to nerve signaling, liver protein production, or sensitivity to certain anesthesia medicines. The name can be...
Cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) Blood Test: Fatty Liver, NASH, Liver Cell Death, and Results
Cytokeratin-18, often shortened to CK-18 or K18, is a protein found inside many epithelial cells, including liver cells. When liver cells are injured or...
Direct Bilirubin Blood Test: High Direct Bilirubin, Normal Range, Liver and Bile Duct Causes
A direct bilirubin blood test measures the water-soluble bilirubin fraction that has already been processed by the liver. It is usually ordered as part...
Direct vs Indirect Bilirubin: What the Pattern Can Mean
Bilirubin is a yellow-orange waste product made when the body breaks down old red blood cells. Your liver normally takes bilirubin from the blood,...
Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Test: High ELF Score, Normal Range, Liver Fibrosis Risk, and Results
The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis test, usually called the ELF test, is a blood test that helps estimate the risk of liver fibrosis, especially in...
FIB-4 and APRI: Comparing Liver Fibrosis Scores
FIB-4 and APRI are simple liver fibrosis scores made from routine blood test results. They do not diagnose cirrhosis by themselves, but they help...
Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) Index Test: Liver Fibrosis Score, Normal Range, Calculator, and Meaning
The Fibrosis-4 Index, usually called FIB-4, is a simple liver fibrosis score calculated from age, AST, ALT, and platelet count. It does not measure...
FibroTest Blood Test: Liver Fibrosis Score, FibroSure, Normal Range, and Results
FibroTest is a noninvasive blood test that estimates liver fibrosis, which means scarring inside the liver. In the United States, the same test is...
Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Test: High GGT, Normal Range, Liver Disease, Alcohol Use, and Causes
Gamma-glutamyl transferase, usually shortened to GGT, is a liver and bile duct enzyme measured with a simple blood test. Doctors often order it when...
GGT and ALT: Interpreting Fatty Liver, Alcohol, and Liver Stress
GGT and ALT are liver-related enzymes that often rise for different reasons. ALT is more closely tied to liver cell irritation or injury, while...
Globulin Blood Test Normal Range: Reference Values and Meaning
Globulin is not one single protein. It is a group of blood proteins involved in immune defense, inflammation control, blood clotting, nutrient transport, and...
Hepatic Function Panel Test: Liver Enzymes, Bilirubin, Proteins, Normal Ranges, and Results
A hepatic function panel is a blood test that checks several liver-related markers at the same time. It usually includes liver enzymes, bilirubin, albumin,...