Liver Function Test-3 (LIVER SCREEN)

• As part of routine monitoring if you are hepatitis B or hepatitis C positive
• Suspected drug and alcohol abuse
• Liver Cirrhosis
• Any gallbladder conditions

The most common Liver Function tests are Bilirubin, Albumin, ALT and AST. The doctor will order this test for you if he suspects that you may be suffering from a condition that is affecting your liver. A dark coloured urine or light-coloured stools may indicate damage to the liver cells. If you are suffering from Jaundice, the liver is closely monitored. Nausea, Vomiting, diarrhoea may also warrant a liver function test.

The liver is the organ that removes all toxic substances from your blood. When you take medicines, it is the liver that helps you detoxify the substances. The liver is unique because it can regenerate itself. Even when a part of liver is damaged, it can regenerate itself from healthy cells. Alcohol and abuse of drugs puts a strain on the liver cells and can cause irreversible damage. Hepatitis primarily affects the liver cells. The liver also produces proteins, enzymes, store vitamins, produces blood clotting factors and helps maintain hormones. The liver also produces bile which helps in digesting fats. Liver function tests are used to understand the health of the liver and its optimal functioning.

Liver Function Test-3 (Liver Screen) is done to evaluate the health of the liver and detect any problems. They can be used to:

• Diagnose liver disease: Liver function tests can help diagnose a wide range of liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Elevated levels of certain enzymes or proteins in the blood can indicate liver damage or disease.
• Monitor the progression of liver disease: Once a liver disease has been diagnosed, liver function tests can be used to monitor the progression of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of treatment: Liver function tests can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for liver disease. If the levels of certain enzymes or proteins in the blood decrease after treatment, it may indicate that the treatment is working.
• Check for side effects of medication: Certain medications can damage the liver, and liver function tests can be used to monitor the liver function while taking these medications.
• Screening for high-risk groups: Some groups of people have a higher risk of developing liver disease, such as people who consume excessive alcohol, people with obesity, or people with diabetes. liver function test can be done as a screening test to detect any problem early.

• Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes)
• Abdominal pain and swelling
• Swelling in the legs and ankles
• Dark colour urine
• Pale colour stool
• Chronic fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting

The Liver Function Test-3 (Liver Screen) measures SGOT, SGPT, Bilirubin-total, direct & indirect.

This test requires a blood sample. A tourniquet (elastic) band is placed tightly on the upper arm. The patient is then asked to make a fist. This helps in the build-up of blood filling the veins. The skin is disinfected before needle insertion and the blood sample is collected in vacutainer.

In liver disease, certain liver function test results can be elevated, indicating damage or dysfunction of the liver. Here's what each test result might indicate:

• Bilirubin: Elevated bilirubin levels can indicate liver damage or blockage in the bile ducts. When the liver is damaged, bilirubin can build up in the blood, causing jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
• SGOT, SGPT: Elevated levels of these enzymes in the blood can indicate liver damage or disease.

An abnormal Liver Screen results may be caused by a variety of conditions, and more testing and evaluation may be needed to determine the cause.