Alanine aminotransferase – ALT

What is alanine aminotransferase?

The test involves taking a blood sample. Its purpose is to determine the level of alanine aminotransferase, which is a hepatic (liver) enzyme.

Elevated alanine aminotransferase activity indicates damage to the hepatic (liver) cells. Aminotransferases (or transaminases) can be found in the liver, the heart, and skeletal muscles. Elevated serum concentration levels of aminotransferases indicate damage to hepatocytes or myocytes.

When should the ALT test be done?

The test is clinically significant in the following diseases:

• liver problems,
• disorders of the bile ducts,
• heart conditions,
• muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis).

Elevated alanine aminotransferase activity indicates that hepatic cells are damaged – due to viral hepatitis, toxic liver damage, cholestasis (bile obstruction) or infectious mononucleosis.

Increased activity is also observed in the course of pancreatitis and treatment with high doses of salicylates.

Required preparation a few days before the test:

• This is an invasive test, involving collection of blood into an EDTA test tube according to the standard procedure of blood collection, i.e. disinfecting the skin, putting on a tourniquet and applying pressure in the collection site following the procedure. The blood test takes a few minutes.
• The blood collection procedure takes approximately a dozen or so seconds.
• In the event of improper preparation for the blood test, the result will not be reliable.

Blood should be collected in the morning.

• Do not drink alcohol for 2-3 days before the test.
• Refrain from drinking coffee and tea for at least 12 hours before blood collection.
• If possible, eliminate any sources of stress.
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On the day of the ALT test:

• Patients should be on an empty stomach, which means that no meals can be consumed for about 12 hours before the test.
• They are allowed to drink a small amount of water in the morning hours, but not more than a glass.
• Where possible, the test should be performed before patients take their morning dose of medicines, unless their physician instructs otherwise.
• Before the test, patients should remain at rest for 10-15 minutes (in a sitting position).
• Physical exercise, including moderate effort, such as walking or climbing stairs, may alter the values of laboratory tests.

• Test results are available within 1 day.
• It is possible to collect them at the reception desk of a selected centre.
• The results can be accessed online. For this to be possible, it is necessary to collect a password at the reception desk of a selected centre.