Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Alanine transaminase/ aminotransferase
Alanine transaminase/ aminotransferase
Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin
| Test | Alanine transaminase/ aminotransferase |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | ALT |
| Profile | Liver Function Test |
| Tube type | Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin |
| Clinical Indication | Markedly elevated levels may be found in a variety of diseases involving the liver including hepatitis, mononucleosis and cirrhosis. Elevated levels may be detected in viral hepatitis and other forms of liver disease prior to the development of overt clinical symptoms such as jaundice. Levels greater than 15 times the upper reference limit are always indicative of acute hepatocellular necrosis of viral, toxic or circulatory origin. Increased levels may also be detected in cirrhosis and extracellular cholestasis or as a result of alcohol or drugs |
| Specimen Type | Blood |
| Sample type | Serum |
| Minimum Volume | 0.5mL If requesting more than 10 tests please send an additional brown clotted serum sample. |
| Special Precautions | No special requirements |
| Stability | 3 days at 15-25°C and 7 days at 2-8°C |
| Turnaround Time | Urgent: 2 hours Inpatient: 4 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours |
| Laboratory | York and Scarborough |
| Reference Interval | Females: 0 -34 IU/L Pregnant females: 0 -27 IU/L Males: 0 - 45 IU/L |
| Limitations | Severe haemolysis, icterus or lipaemia may interfere with measurement and prevent an ALT value from being reported. Sulfasalazine / Sulfapyridine (300mg/L, therapeutic dose) may lead to falsely low results (up to 69% negative bias); Furosemide can cause falsely high results; Isoniazid can cause falsely low results; Hydroxycobalamin / Cyanokit (cyanide antidote) may cause interfernce with results. |
| Notes |
