Aspartate AminoTransferase (SGOT)

Liver

Report in 4Hrs

At Home

No Fasting Required

Details

Aspartate transaminase; non-specific enzyme elevated in liver, cardiac, or muscle injury.

₹49₹190

74% OFF

Aspartate Aminotransferase (SGOT) - Comprehensive Medical Test Information Guide

Section 1: Why is it done?
- Test Overview: AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase), also known as SGOT (Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase), is an enzyme found primarily in the liver, heart, muscles, and kidneys. This blood test measures the level of AST enzyme to assess liver function and detect tissue damage.
- Primary Indications: Evaluate liver disease or damage (hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease) • Screen for hepatotoxicity from medications or alcohol consumption • Assess myocardial infarction (heart attack) when combined with other cardiac markers • Diagnose muscle disorders or rhabdomyolysis • Monitor liver function in patients receiving hepatotoxic drugs • Evaluate unexplained jaundice or abdominal pain • Screen for hemolytic anemia
- Typical Timing/Circumstances: Part of routine physical examination • During acute illness with suspected liver or cardiac involvement • Annual screening for high-risk patients (chronic alcohol use, hepatitis exposure) • When symptoms suggest liver disease (fatigue, jaundice, dark urine) • Serial monitoring during treatment of liver disease • Assessment following suspected trauma or muscle injury
Section 2: Normal Range
- Reference Range Values: Adults: 10-40 IU/L (International Units per Liter) • Some laboratories use 0-35 IU/L or 10-34 IU/L depending on methodology • Range may vary slightly between males and females • Children: 15-45 IU/L (normal range slightly higher than adults) • Newborns: May be higher, typically up to 60-70 IU/L • Units of Measurement: IU/L (International Units per Liter) or µkat/L (microkatal per liter)
- Interpreting Results: Normal (Negative): AST levels within 10-40 IU/L indicate normal liver and muscle function; generally no pathology • Mildly Elevated: 40-100 IU/L suggests mild tissue damage or early disease; may need further investigation • Moderately Elevated: 100-400 IU/L indicates significant organ damage or disease process • Markedly Elevated: >400 IU/L (often >1000 IU/L) suggests acute hepatic necrosis, severe hepatitis, or acute myocardial infarction • Low AST: Rarely abnormal; may occur in advanced cirrhosis (destroyed liver tissue) or vitamin B6 deficiency
- Clinical Significance: Normal results suggest absence of significant liver, cardiac, or muscle disease • Results must be interpreted with clinical context and patient symptoms • Borderline elevations require correlation with other liver function tests (ALT, ALP, bilirubin) • Single test result is less reliable than trending AST over time
Section 3: Interpretation
- Detailed Result Interpretation: Mild Elevation (40-100 IU/L): May indicate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), mild viral hepatitis, or early alcoholic liver disease; requires follow-up testing • Moderate Elevation (100-400 IU/L): Suggests active hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, medication-induced liver injury, or muscle damage from trauma or exercise • Severe Elevation (>1000 IU/L): Highly suggestive of acute hepatic necrosis, acute viral hepatitis, acetaminophen toxicity, or acute myocardial infarction • Acute Myocardial Infarction: AST peaks 24-48 hours after cardiac event; often exceeds ALT (AST/ALT ratio >1) • Chronic Liver Disease: Progressive elevation; may decrease as cirrhosis advances (destroyed tissue produces less enzyme)
- Factors Affecting Results: Medications: Acetaminophen, statins, antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulanate), isoniazid, phenothiazines • Alcohol Consumption: Chronic or acute alcohol use elevates AST disproportionately compared to ALT • Recent Exercise: Strenuous physical activity can temporarily elevate AST from muscle • Hemolysis: Damaged red blood cells release AST; must use new blood sample • Muscle Injury: Trauma, rhabdomyolysis, or muscular dystrophy increase AST • Viral Infections: Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis viruses • Thyroid Disease: Hyperthyroidism can increase AST • Pregnancy: May slightly elevate AST, especially in third trimester • Dietary Factors: High-fat meal prior to testing (less significant than ALT)
- Clinical Significance Patterns: AST >ALT Ratio: Suggests alcoholic liver disease or cirrhosis • ALT >AST Ratio: Indicates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) • AST with Elevated Bilirubin: Suggests cholestasis or advanced liver disease • AST with Normal ALP: More likely indicates hepatocellular rather than cholestatic pattern • Rapidly Rising AST: May indicate acute hepatitis or myocardial infarction • Slowly Rising AST: Suggests chronic liver disease or progressive damage
Section 4: Associated Organs
- Primary Organ Systems: Liver (primary site): Hepatocytes contain high concentration of AST; most sensitive indicator of hepatic damage • Heart: Cardiac myocytes contain mitochondrial AST; rises quickly after myocardial infarction • Skeletal Muscle: Contains cytoplasmic AST; elevated in muscle injury or disease • Kidneys: Contains AST; releases enzyme during renal damage or acute kidney injury • Red Blood Cells: Small amounts of AST present; hemolysis affects results
- Associated Medical Conditions: Liver Diseases: Viral hepatitis (A, B, C, E), alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH), autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis • Hepatotoxicity: Drug-induced liver injury from acetaminophen, statins, antibiotics, NSAIDs, anticonvulsants • Cardiac Conditions: Acute myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, myocarditis, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias • Muscular Disorders: Rhabdomyolysis, muscular dystrophy, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, myositis • Infections: Sepsis, severe bacterial or viral infections affecting multiple organs • Metabolic Disorders: Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, glycogen storage diseases • Malignancies: Hepatocellular carcinoma, liver metastases, hemolytic anemia from malignancy • Trauma: Burns, crush injuries, severe accidents • Other Conditions: Hemolytic anemia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), thyroid storm
- Diseases Diagnosed/Monitored: Helps diagnose and monitor acute and chronic hepatitis • Screens for cirrhosis and assesses progression of liver fibrosis • Detects medication-induced liver injury early • Identifies myocardial infarction when used with other cardiac markers (troponin, CK-MB) • Assesses severity of muscle damage in trauma or genetic muscle disorders • Monitors patients receiving potentially hepatotoxic medications • Contributes to differential diagnosis of acute abdomen
- Potential Complications: Severe liver disease may progress to hepatic failure, encephalopathy, and death if untreated • Acute hepatitis can evolve to fulminant hepatic failure requiring transplantation • Unrecognized myocardial infarction may result in cardiogenic shock or arrhythmias • Severe muscle injury (rhabdomyolysis) can cause acute kidney injury and hyperkalemia • Chronic liver disease complications: portal hypertension, variceal bleeding, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis • Progressive cirrhosis leads to hepatorenal syndrome and multi-organ failure
Section 5: Follow-up Tests
- Recommended Follow-up Tests: Liver Function Panel: - Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): Assess AST/ALT ratio to differentiate liver disease etiology - Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP): Determine if cholestatic or hepatocellular pattern - Total and Direct Bilirubin: Assess excretory function and severity of disease - Albumin: Evaluate synthetic liver function - Prothrombin Time (PT/INR): Assess liver's ability to manufacture clotting factors • Viral Serology: Hepatitis A, B, C antibodies and antigens if acute hepatitis suspected • Autoimmune Markers: Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibodies for autoimmune hepatitis • Imaging Studies: Abdominal ultrasound or CT to assess liver structure and fibrosis • Cardiac Markers (if AMI suspected): Troponin I/T, CK-MB, myoglobin • Muscle-Related Tests: Creatine Kinase (CK), myoglobin if rhabdomyolysis suspected
- Further Investigations: Liver Biopsy: Gold standard for assessing fibrosis stage and inflammation grade; performed if non-invasive markers inconclusive • FibroTest/FibroScan: Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis using elastography • APRI Score: Calculation using AST and platelet count to assess fibrosis • Electrocardiogram (ECG): To assess for myocardial infarction patterns • Echocardiogram: Evaluate cardiac function if myocardial disease suspected • Chest X-ray: Assess for cardiac or pulmonary involvement • Toxicology Screen: If drug-induced liver injury suspected • Metabolic Screening: Iron studies, copper levels, genetic testing for hereditary conditions
- Monitoring Frequency: Acute Hepatitis: Weekly testing until values stabilize or begin declining • Chronic Hepatitis: Every 3-6 months during treatment; annually if stable • Cirrhosis: Every 6-12 months; more frequently if decompensation suspected • Patients on Hepatotoxic Medications: Baseline, then at 1 month, 3 months, then every 6-12 months • Post-Myocardial Infarction: Serial measurements at 8 hours, 16 hours, 24 hours post-event for diagnostic confirmation • Fatty Liver Disease: Annually to assess progression; more frequently if elevated transaminases persist • Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment: Monthly initially, then every 2-3 months during recovery • Post-Liver Transplant: Frequently in immediate post-operative period, then monthly for first year, then as needed
- Complementary Tests: Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH): Elevated in hepatocellular injury and hemolysis • Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT): Differentiates liver vs. bone origin of ALP elevation • Complete Blood Count (CBC): Assess for anemia, platelet count (reflects liver synthetic function) • Glucose and Electrolytes: Assess metabolic function impaired in liver disease • Renal Function Tests: Creatinine and BUN to assess hepatorenal syndrome • Ammonia Level: If hepatic encephalopathy suspected • Coagulation Studies: PT/INR, aPTT to assess bleeding risk in liver disease
Section 6: Fasting Required?
- Fasting Requirement: No - Fasting is NOT required for AST testing
- Rationale: AST levels are not significantly affected by recent food or fluid intake • Unlike lipid panels, glucose, or triglycerides, AST is not sensitive to dietary factors • Food intake does not cause clinically meaningful variations in AST results • Test can be performed at any time of day
- Patient Preparation Instructions: No special fasting requirements • Patient may eat and drink normally before test • No alcohol consumption within 24 hours of testing (important for accurate interpretation) • Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for easy blood draw access • Stay hydrated; adequate hydration may improve blood draw • Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours prior to testing if possible (can elevate AST from muscle) • Continue taking all regular medications unless specifically instructed otherwise by physician
- Medications to Avoid: Do NOT discontinue medications without physician approval • However, inform healthcare provider about medications that may affect AST: • Statins (atorvastatin, simvastatin) • Acetaminophen (especially chronic or excessive use) • NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) • Antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulanate, minocycline) • Antifungals (fluconazole, terbinafine) • Antituberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampin) • Phenothiazines and other psychotropic medications • Supplements: High-dose niacin, herbal supplements (kava, skullcap) • Physician may advise timing of test relative to medications or temporary discontinuation if appropriate
- Additional Preparation Requirements: Timing: Test ideally performed in morning (standard laboratory practice) but no fasting requirement • Specimen Requirements: Single venipuncture, approximately 5-7 mL blood in standard SST (serum separator tube) • Avoid Hemolysis: Minimize muscle exertion during blood draw; don't make fist repeatedly • Sample Handling: Blood should be processed within 1 hour of collection • Temperature Stability: Room temperature is acceptable; refrigeration not necessary • Common Lab Combinations: Often ordered as part of Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) or Liver Function Panel (requires no special preparation) • Pregnancy Consideration: AST testing is safe in pregnancy if medically indicated; no special precautions needed • Pediatric Considerations: Same preparation as adults; may require smaller blood volume depending on age

How our test process works!