Why Your Liver Deserves Regular Monitoring
The liver is one of the body’s hardest-working organs — detoxifying harmful substances, metabolizing nutrients, and producing essential proteins, all without much recognition until something goes wrong. Because early liver damage often shows no symptoms, a Liver Function Test (LFT) is one of the most valuable — and most overlooked — routine health checks available.
What an LFT Actually Measures
An LFT is a panel of blood tests checking enzymes, proteins, and other substances produced by the liver, including ALT (SGPT), AST (SGOT), bilirubin, albumin, total protein, and gamma GT. Together, these markers reveal how well your liver is functioning and whether there’s any inflammation, damage, or impaired bile flow.
What LFT Can Detect
- Viral hepatitis (A, B, C) and its progression over time
- Alcohol-related liver damage
- Fatty liver disease, increasingly common with modern lifestyles
- Drug-induced liver injury from certain medications
- Cirrhosis and scarring in more advanced cases
- Bile duct obstruction, indicated by abnormal bilirubin levels
Understanding Normal Ranges
Typical reference ranges are approximately 7–56 units/litre for ALT and 10–40 units/litre for AST, though exact ranges vary slightly by lab. Values outside this range don’t automatically mean disease — they signal that further evaluation with a doctor is worthwhile.
Who Should Get an LFT?
- Regular or heavy alcohol consumers
- People with a family history of liver disease
- Those on long-term medications known to affect the liver
- Anyone experiencing unexplained fatigue, jaundice, or abdominal discomfort
- People with diabetes or obesity, both linked to fatty liver disease
- Anyone undergoing a routine annual health checkup
Preparing for the Test
Most labs recommend fasting for 10–12 hours before an LFT for the most accurate results. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours beforehand, and inform your healthcare provider about any medications or supplements you’re taking, as several can influence liver enzyme readings.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most healthy adults, once a year as part of a routine checkup is sufficient. Those with risk factors like heavy alcohol use or chronic conditions may need more frequent testing.
The liver has a notable capacity to regenerate — early-stage damage from causes like fatty liver or moderate alcohol use can often improve significantly with lifestyle changes.
No — results can be affected by recent alcohol intake, certain medications, or even strenuous exercise. Your doctor will interpret results in context.
Book a Liver Function Test with Biocity Healthcare
Get your LFT done at home — free sample collection, NABL-accredited lab, reports within 24 hours.
