What the Liver Function Test (LFT) measures
A liver function test (LFT) is a group of blood tests that shows how the liver and bile ducts are coping. Bilirubin (total, direct and indirect) is a yellow pigment that the liver processes; when it builds up it can cause jaundice, and the split between direct and indirect bilirubin helps a doctor think about the cause. SGOT (AST) and SGPT (ALT) are enzymes that leak into the blood when liver cells are irritated or damaged, for example by viral hepatitis, fatty liver, alcohol or some medicines. ALP and GGT tend to rise when bile flow is blocked, and GGT is also affected by alcohol. Total protein, albumin and globulin give an idea of how well the liver is making proteins over time. The pattern across all these values is usually more informative than any single number, and many slightly abnormal results turn out to be temporary, so doctors often repeat the test or add others before drawing conclusions.
Price: the Liver Function Test (LFT) costs ₹456 at Pure Bliss (MRP ₹570), with the sample collected at our Action Area 2, New Town centre or at your home.
Who this test is for
- Jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, itching or pain in the upper right abdomen
- Suspected or known fatty liver, hepatitis or regular alcohol use
- Monitoring of medicines that can affect the liver
- Routine health check-ups
How to prepare, the sample, and when to expect the report
Preparation
An overnight fast of 8 to 12 hours is often preferred, especially when booked with sugar or lipid tests; water is allowed. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before the sample, and tell us about the medicines you take.
Sample
Blood, from a vein in the arm (serum).
Reporting time
Morning samples are reported the same day; later samples by the next day.
Reading the result
Reference ranges differ between laboratories, so your report lists the laboratory’s own range beside each value. A result outside the range does not always mean illness; ask your doctor to explain it.
- Centre or home collection
- NABL-accredited Redcliffe Labs collection centre
- How collection works →