What does an ALT lab test screen for?

Answer 1

An alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood. ALT is found mainly in the liver, but also in smaller amounts in the kidneys , heart , muscles, and pancreas . ALT was formerly called serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT).

ALT is measured to see if the liver is damaged or diseased. Low levels of ALT are normally found in the blood. But when the liver is damaged or diseased, it releases ALT into the bloodstream, which makes ALT levels go up. Most increases in ALT levels are caused by liver damage.

The ALT test is often done along with other tests that check for liver damage, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and bilirubin. Both ALT and AST levels are reliable tests for liver damage.

(WebMD)

Answer 2

You are probably referring to the "basic" metabolic panel. Alanine transaminase (ALT or SGPT) is a liver enzyme that plays a role in protein metabolism. While ALT is part of a liver "function" test, it more appropriately used as a marker of liver damage rather than function.

Answer 3

1. More specific for the liver than AST, but also present in kidney and muscle2. Used to confirm that AST elevations are of liver origin (e.g., elevation of both AST and ALT strongly suggest hepatocellular injury)3. The time course of ALT elevations in liver disease is shown below; AST would show a similar overall time course (though the ratio of the AST and ALT varies with disease and from patient to patient, as described in the next section)

Answer 4

The ALT is your alanine aminotransferase. It is a blood test that looks for liver and kidney functions and the level of enzymes present.