Tell your doctor about any medicines you take because some drugs might affect the test results. It can help to wear a T shirt or other short-sleeve top on the day of the test to make things faster and easier for the technician who will be drawing the blood. Most blood tests take a small amount of blood from a vein. To do that, a health professional will:. It's best to try to relax and stay still during the procedure because tensing muscles can make it harder and more painful to draw blood.
And if you don't want to watch the needle being inserted or see the blood collecting, you don't have to. Look the other way and maybe relax by focusing on saying the alphabet backward, doing some breathing exercises, thinking of a place that makes you happy, or listening to your favorite music. Most blood tests take just a few minutes. Occasionally, it can be hard to find a vein, so the health professional may need to try more than once.
Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Liver Function Tests. What are liver function tests? The different substances are often tested at the same time on a single blood sample, and may include the following: Albumin , a protein made in the liver Total protein. This test measures the total amount of protein in the blood.
These are different enzymes made by the liver. Bilirubin , a waste product made by the liver. Lactate dehydrogenase LD , an enzyme found in most of the body's cells. LD is released into the blood when cells have been damaged by disease or injury. Prothrombin time PT , a protein involved in blood clotting. Other names: liver panel, liver function panel, liver profile hepatic function panel, LFT. What are they used for? Liver function tests are most often used to: Help diagnose liver diseases, such as hepatitis Monitor treatment of liver disease.
These tests can show how well the treatment is working. However, these enzymes can also be found in other places besides the liver. Talk to your doctor about the results of your liver function test and what they may mean for you. Depending on the test, either higher- or lower-than-normal levels of these enzymes or proteins can indicate a problem with your liver.
Alanine transaminase ALT is used by your body to metabolize protein. If the liver is damaged or not functioning properly, ALT can be released into the blood. This causes ALT levels to increase. Aspartate aminotransferase AST is an enzyme found in several parts of your body, including the heart , liver, and muscles. When the liver is damaged, AST can be released into the bloodstream. A high result on an AST test might indicate a problem with the liver or muscles.
Alkaline phosphatase ALP is an enzyme found in your bones, bile ducts, and liver. An ALP test is typically ordered in combination with several other tests.
High levels of ALP may indicate liver inflammation, blockage of the bile ducts , or a bone disease. Children and adolescents may have elevated levels of ALP because their bones are growing. Pregnancy can also raise ALP levels. Albumin is the main protein made by your liver. It performs many important bodily functions. For example, albumin:.
An albumin test measures how well your liver is making this particular protein. The normal range for albumin is 3. However, low albumin can also be a result of poor nutrition, kidney disease, infection, and inflammation. Bilirubin is a waste product from the breakdown of red blood cells. It passes through the liver before being excreted through your stool.
Levels that are higher or lower than normal can indicate liver problems. Some common liver function tests include:. The blood sample for liver function tests is usually taken from a vein in your arm. The main risk associated with blood tests is soreness or bruising at the site of the blood draw. Most people don't have serious reactions to having blood drawn. Certain foods and medications can affect the results of your liver function tests.
Your doctor will probably ask you to avoid eating food and taking some medications before your blood is drawn. The blood sample for liver function tests is usually drawn through a small needle inserted into a vein in the bend of your arm. The needle is attached to a small tube, to collect your blood. You may feel a quick pain as the needle is inserted into your arm and experience some short-term discomfort at the site after the needle is removed.
Your blood will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. If the lab analysis is done on-site, you could have your test results within hours.
0コメント