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Liver Function Tests

Liver Function Tests (LFTs)

Liver Function Tests, also known as LFTs, are tests used to evaluate the health and functioning of the liver. The tests measure the level of certain enzymes and proteins in the blood that are either produced by the liver or affected by the liver.

Preparation for Liver Function Tests

Most lab tests do not require special preparation. It is recommended to fast for 8–12 hours prior to the test. If the liver enzyme test is part of an overall physical, the doctor may require other tests such as a fasting lipid panel, metabolic panel, and hemoglobin A1C.

Procedure for Liver Function Tests

LFTs can be performed by a phlebotomist in a clinic, hospital, or laboratory setting. A blood sample is taken with a needle and placed in a tube. The lab then analyzes the sample for levels of enzymes or proteins that can indicate problems with the liver, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Types of Liver Function Tests

  • Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
  • Alanine Transaminase (ALT)
  • Aspartate Transaminase (AST)
  • Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT)
  • Bilirubin
  • Albumin
  • Total Protein
  • Prothrombin Time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)

Risks of Liver Function Tests

There are very few risks associated with LFTs. As with any blood test, there is a small risk of infection, bleeding, bruising, and discomfort associated with the needles used to draw the blood sample.

Why are Liver Function Tests Needed?

Liver Function Tests are used to monitor and diagnose diseases and conditions of the liver. These tests can identify liver disease, monitor the effects of medications and treatment plans, and detect damage from toxins including alcohol, drugs, or poisonous chemicals.

When are Liver Function Tests Needed?

Liver Function Tests are part of routine screenings in certain populations, like pregnant women or those who have certain chronic diseases. They may also be ordered when someone has symptoms that suggest liver disease or damage, such as jaundice, abdominal pain, or fatigue.

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Related Questions

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below.The Italian banking system became the model for those North European nations that would achieve the greatest commercial success in the coming centuries, notably the Dutch, the English, and the Swedes. It was in Amsterdam, London and Stockholm that the next decisive wave of financial or innovation occurred, as the forerunners of modern central banks made their first appearance. The seventeenth century saw the foundation of three distinctly novel institutions that, in their differen in ways, were intended to serve a public as well as a private financial function. The Amsterdam Exchange Bank, i.e. the Wisselbank, was set up in 1609 to resolve the practical problems created for merchants by the circulation of multiple currencies in the United Provinces, where there were no fewer than fourteen different mints and copious quantities of foreign coins. By allowing merchants to set up accounts denominated in a standardized currency, the Exchange Bank pioneered the system of cheques and direct debits or transfers that we take for granted today. This allowed more and more commercial transactions to take place without the need for the sums involved to materialize in actual coins. Financial historians disagree as to how far the growth of banking after the seventeenth century can be credited with the acceleration of economic growth that began in Britain in the late eighteenth 20 5 century and then spread to Western Europe, North America and Australasia. But banks played a more important role in continental European industrialization than they did in England's.a) Where did the precursors of modern central banks make their first appearance? b) What practical problem was the Wisselbank required to resolve in its initial days?c) How did the Amsterdam Exchange Bank respond to the demand of the age? d) What are the points of disagreement among the financial historians with respect to growth of banking vis-a-vis growth of economy? e) Choose a suitable title for above composition.
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