At home liver function test

You can now easily test your own liver values from home with the Easly Liver Self-Test.

Testing your own liver values is done with a finger prick, after which a number of blood values are measured. This is because the liver produces about four substances, also called liver enzymes. With these four enzymes, a reasonable impression can be obtained about the health of liver and bile ducts. The four enzymes are ALAT (alanine aminotransferase), ASAT (aspartate aminotransferase), AF (alkaline phosphatase) and GGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase).When liver cells are damaged, these substances are released from the liver cells in increased amounts and the concentration in the blood increases. Certain combinations of abnormalities in the four liver enzymes may indicate various disorders. Therefore, the liver enzymes should always be determined and interpreted together.

Slightly abnormal values do not necessarily indicate a disorder. They can also occur as a result of certain medication use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy weight (both underweight and overweight).

In the case of an infection of the liver such as hepatitis A or B, ALAT and ASAT in particular will be significantly elevated, with ALAT higher than ASAT. If ASAT is very high, cirrhosis of the liver, due to alcohol abuse, should rather be considered. In the case of gallstones, where the drainage of bile is obstructed, the AF and GGT in particular will rise sharply and the ALAT and ASAT will be slightly elevated.

Normal liver values:
Once you have conducted the liver function test, you can view the results in your personal results dashboard. The normal values may vary depending on the laboratory, but for most laboratories, the following values apply:

• ASAT/ALAT: a value less than 50 for men and 35 for women. A value above this range is considered abnormal.
• Gamma GT (GGT): the normal value is less than 60 for men and less than 40 for women.
• Alkaline phosphatase: less than 130 for men and less than 105 for women.

The symptoms range from pain in the upper right abdomen, fever, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, pale stools, and dark urine to fatigue or even drowsiness.

Your liver is healthy when blood levels are normal. See here for an overview of normal values.

ALT
A value less than 50 for men and 35 for women. A value above that we interpret as abnormal.

Gamma-GT
For men the normal value is less than 60, for women less than 40.

Alkaline phosphatase
Smaller than 130 for men and smaller than 105 for women.

With the liver function test, we check the value of four enzymes: ALAT/ASAT, GGT and AF. You can follow it up with other tests that measure the presence of bilirubin, albumin and LDH and check clotting status.

An elevated liver function means that further investigation is necessary to determine the underlying cause. Slightly elevated blood levels may have other causes and are not necessarily the result of a liver condition. Only when the values exceed a certain level, should intervention be necessary. Discuss the results with a doctor.

Elevated liver function means further investigation into the possible cause for this elevation. Slightly elevated blood levels can have other causes and are not always the result of a condition. Only when the values exceed a certain level should action be taken. We are happy to give advice after your results.

Many liver conditions are difficult or impossible to prevent. These can include inflammation of the liver due to a virus, gallstones in the gallbladder, the necessary use of certain medications, or malignancy in the liver. However, your lifestyle can have an impact on the health of your liver. Excessive alcohol consumption is a well-known cause of liver cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). Liver steatosis, the accumulation of fat in the liver, also results from an unhealthy lifestyle that disrupts fat metabolism and causes fat to accumulate in the liver. Eating a healthy diet and consuming little to no alcohol can contribute to a healthy liver.”

The liver self-test consists of a simple finger prick. You send this sample of blood to our lab where we read the blood values of the liver. We test your blood sample for four enzymes: ALAT, ASAT, GGT and AF.

You can take the liver function self-test when you are symptomatic or want more insight into the ASAT/ALAT level, GGT level and AF level in your blood.