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Liver Function Screening is a simple finger-stick blood test to determine if the ALT and AST liver enzyme levels are in the normal range or if they are elevated, providing an early indication of liver damage.
Because the liver is essential to digest food and rid the body of toxins, damage to the liver can ultimately lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. This is why Life Line Screening offers a liver test so you can take the first step in monitoring your liver’s health. Another way of saying “Liver Function Screening,” is a “Liver Enzymes Blood Test,” because the screening looks at the amount of two enzymes in your blood related to liver health. The enzymes are Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST). Enzymes are molecules that help important chemical reactions happen in your body.
The liver is a large reddish-brown organ that you normally can’t feel it because it is protected by the ribs. It has two sections, called the right and left lobes, and together with other organs like the pancreas, gall bladder, and intestines, helps your body use the food you eat, and take out things that can hurt you. It also helps you metabolize drugs.1
Doctors categorize liver function in four ways: Healthy, Fibrosis, Cirrhosis, and Cancer. No matter what causes the liver damage, the progress is exactly the same, and once the liver is seriously damaged, it can lead to total liver failure.1
Liver Function Screening determines if Alanine Aminotranferease (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) enzymes are elevated in the blood. These enzymes, found in the liver, spill into circulating blood when liver cells are injured. Liver damage can be caused by hepatitis, alcohol consumption, diabetes, obesity, or statin-lowering medication.
Liver function is critical to staying healthy, so consult a doctor if you observe these warning signs or if a liver enzymes test comes back abnormal.
Liver function tests are for people taking statin medication to lower cholesterol, those with diabetes, are obese, consume large amounts of alcohol, or are at risk for hepatitis.
*Screening availability may be limited by location.
Just like any disease, early detection allows you and your doctor to take action and slow the progression or mitigate your risk. If a liver enzyme test, like the liver function test that Life Line Screening offers, comes back with indications of possible damage, your doctor will want to do further testing such as ultrasound or a CT scan.
This is what we look for in a liver enzymes blood test. ALT and AST are enzymes that are found in the liver. Damage to the liver causes these enzymes to spill into the bloodstream. These enzymes are often monitored closely in people taking statin-lowering medications.
Many things can damage the liver: hepatitis infection, alcohol consumption, diabetes, obesity, and statin-lowering medications.
Most of the time, screening results are normal, providing the customer with peace of mind. However, in some cases, such as the real life stories here, potential health issues are identified enabling the person to do something about it before it is too late.
