Learn/Liver

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Liver tests

Explore the enzymes, proteins and bilirubin measurements on a liver panel.

Explore liver

Guide

Total protein, albumin, globulin and the A/G ratio: one measurement, three derived rows

Of the four protein rows on a routine panel, two are usually measured and two are worked out from them. Which is which.

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SGPT (ALT)

Reported in U/L.

Guide

Total, direct and indirect bilirubin — and why the third is subtraction

Two of these three rows are measured and one is the difference between them. What bilirubin is, and why the split is reported at all.

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SGOT (AST)

Reported in U/L.

Guide

ALT, AST, ALP and GGT: four enzymes on one panel

A liver panel measures enzymes, not liver function directly. What each one is, and why the same enzyme appears under two different names on different reports.

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Alkaline Phosphatase

Reported in U/L.

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Total Bilirubin

Reported in mg/dL · µmol/L.

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Direct Bilirubin

Reported in mg/dL · µmol/L.

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Indirect Bilirubin

Reported in mg/dL.

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Total Protein

Reported in g/dL.

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Albumin

Reported in g/dL.

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GGT

Reported in U/L.

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Globulin

Reported in g/dL.

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A/G Ratio

Reported in ratio.

Reading the report

Guide

What the H and L flags on a lab report actually assert

A flag compares your number to the range printed beside it on that page — nothing more. What it does not tell you, and why healthy people collect them.

Guide

Why the same blood test has different "normal" ranges at different labs

Reference intervals are built from each lab's own population and equipment, which is why two labs can print different ranges for the same sample.

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