Liver Function Blood Test
Your liver plays an important role in your health: regulating hormones, clearing toxins, processing nutrients, and supporting immunity. But most people don’t know how well their liver is actually performing until something goes wrong. A liver function blood test (LFT) is a simple but powerful way to check your liver’s health. It can detect early signs of damage, disease, or dysfunction, long before symptoms show up. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what an LFT measures, how it works, when to get one, and what your results actually mean. We’ll also explain how liver health connects to long-term wellbeing, and what you can do if your levels are off. At Everlab, we include liver function testing as part of every advanced diagnostic because it’s one of the most valuable tools for detecting early disease risk.
Liver Function Blood Test In Australia, Book Liver Function Test Today
What:
Blood biomarker
Tests for:
Liver health
Referral:
Required
Average cost:
$60-$100
What Is a Liver Function Blood Test?
A liver function test (LFT) is a group of blood tests that assess how well your liver is working. It doesn’t test just one thing — it measures multiple enzymes, proteins, and waste products that together reflect how well your liver is performing and whether there’s any underlying damage, inflammation, or dysfunction. These tests measure several substances produced by the liver to assess its health.
This test may also be referred to as a liver panel, LFT panel, or blood work for liver enzymes. Despite the names, they all look at the same fundamental metrics: how your liver processes toxins, breaks down nutrients, and maintains internal balance. Liver function tests are interpreted alongside medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests for a comprehensive diagnosis.
What Does the Liver Do?
The liver is your body’s largest internal organ, weighing around 1.5 kg and performing over 500 essential functions daily. It acts as your body’s biochemical factory — filtering, processing, storing, and producing crucial compounds.
Key roles of the liver include:
- Detoxification: Filters your blood to remove toxins, alcohol, drugs, and by-products of metabolism. It breaks these down into less harmful substances and either recycles or eliminates them through bile or urine.
- Metabolism: Helps regulate carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. It converts excess glucose to glycogen for storage and breaks it down when energy is needed. The liver is also involved in the metabolism of amino acids and facilitates various chemical reactions necessary for energy production and detoxification.
- Digestion: Produces bile, a greenish fluid that helps digest fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
- Storage: Acts as a reserve for iron, copper, vitamins A, D, B12, and glycogen.
- Synthesis: Produces important proteins such as albumin (which maintains blood volume and pressure) and clotting factors (which prevent bleeding) (these are blood clotting factors essential for coagulation).
- Immune function: Houses immune cells (Kupffer cells) that destroy bacteria, viruses, and worn-out blood cells, including red blood cells, which the liver helps break down.
Why Liver Health Matters
When liver function declines, the effects ripple through nearly every system in the body — often long before symptoms become obvious. Unlike pain in a joint or rash on the skin, liver issues are silent until they reach an advanced stage.
Even slightly impaired liver function can contribute to:
- Hormonal imbalance: The liver breaks down oestrogen, cortisol, thyroid hormones and more. If sluggish, hormonal symptoms can emerge (e.g. PMS, low energy, brain fog).
- Fatty liver and insulin resistance: Poor liver health is a key factor in metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
- Cardiovascular risk: Elevated liver enzymes often coincide with high LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammation — all of which increase heart disease risk.
- Toxin overload: A sluggish liver may leave your body struggling to clear waste, triggering fatigue, headaches, skin issues, or poor immunity.
Liver function tests are commonly used to detect liver disease or damage, including chronic liver disease, even before symptoms of liver problems appear.
Checking your liver function isn’t just about preventing liver disease, it’s about optimising your entire body.
What’s Included in a Liver Function Test?
A standard LFT includes several individual tests. A liver test evaluates how liver cells release enzymes and proteins into the blood, and test results help guide diagnosis and management. Together, they give a multi-dimensional view of how well your liver is working.
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
ALT is an enzyme mostly found in liver cells (ALT stands for alanine transaminase, also known as alanine transaminase ALT). When these cells are damaged or inflamed, whether from alcohol, fat buildup, medication, or infection, ALT leaks into the bloodstream. It’s one of the most sensitive markers of liver injury.
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
AST is also found in liver cells but is less specific than ALT because it’s also present in muscles, heart, and kidneys. However, the AST:ALT ratio can offer clues — for example, an AST higher than ALT may suggest alcohol-related liver damage or cirrhosis.
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)
ALP is found in the liver and bile ducts. Elevated ALP levels can indicate bile flow problems (cholestasis), gallstones, or even bone disorders (since elevated ALP can also be a sign of bone disease, further evaluation may be needed to distinguish between liver and bone sources), so it must be interpreted in context with other enzymes.
Globulin
Globulins are a group of proteins that include antibodies and enzymes. They’re important for immune function, inflammation regulation, and blood clotting. Abnormal globulin levels may point to chronic inflammation, immune disorders, or liver disease.
GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase)
GGT is highly sensitive to alcohol and certain medications. Elevated GGT alongside ALP suggests a liver or bile duct problem. It’s also used to monitor alcohol-related liver disease (including alcoholic liver disease, which is characterized by specific patterns of enzyme elevation).
Albumin
Albumin is a protein made by the liver that keeps fluid from leaking out of blood vessels. Low levels can indicate liver dysfunction, malnutrition, or chronic disease.
Total Protein
This includes albumin and globulins, offering a view into immune and liver function.
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown. The liver processes and excretes it. High bilirubin can result in jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes), and may indicate bile obstruction or liver inflammation.
What Causes Elevated Liver Enzymes?
Raised liver enzymes are a sign your liver is under stress, inflamed, or damaged. Causes include:
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Often linked to obesity, insulin resistance, or high triglycerides. This is now the most common cause of elevated liver enzymes globally. Chronic liver injury from NAFLD or other causes can lead to liver fibrosis, which may progress to liver cirrhosis.
- Alcohol use: Excessive drinking can damage liver cells and elevate GGT, ALT, and AST.
- Medications: Painkillers like paracetamol, antibiotics, antidepressants, and cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) can all affect liver enzymes.
- Viral infections: Hepatitis A, B, or C may raise enzymes even before symptoms appear. Hepatitis B is a significant cause of chronic hepatitis and can be distinguished from other types by specific serologic markers. Chronic hepatitis, if untreated, can progress to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
- Autoimmune liver disease: The immune system mistakenly attacks liver cells. Autoimmune hepatitis is a specific autoimmune condition that causes persistent hepatocellular inflammation and elevated liver function tests.
- Genetic conditions: Like haemochromatosis or Wilson’s disease. Family history of genetic liver conditions (such as Wilson disease) is important in diagnosis.
- Gallbladder disease: Gallstones can obstruct bile ducts, raising ALP and GGT. Bile duct damage can also elevate ALP and GGT.
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis: This is a chronic liver disease causing inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts, leading to cholestasis and bile duct damage.
- Coeliac disease: An autoimmune disorder that can be associated with unexplained liver abnormalities and should be considered in differential diagnosis.
- Muscle injury: Can also elevate AST and ALT — particularly after intense exercise.
- Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH): This can indicate liver cell damage and is useful in differentiating patterns of liver injury.
- Prothrombin time (PT): Prothrombin time is used to assess the liver's ability to produce blood clotting factors. Prolonged prothrombin time (PT) may indicate impaired liver synthetic function, especially in severe liver disease.
- Cirrhosis: Advanced scarring of the liver from chronic injury. Liver cirrhosis is a potential outcome of chronic liver disease.
Abnormal results may require further tests, including other liver function tests, other blood tests, or other tests such as imaging or biopsy, to determine the underlying cause.
What Can Affect Your Liver Function Test?
Liver function tests are influenced by various short- and long-term factors. These include:
- Lifestyle choices: Alcohol, sugar, processed food, lack of sleep, and low physical activity can all negatively affect enzyme levels.
- Body composition: High visceral fat and waist circumference are strongly linked to NAFLD and elevated ALT/AST.
- Recent activity: Heavy exercise or illness can transiently raise certain enzymes.
- Supplements: Even natural remedies (e.g. green tea extract, kava, high-dose vitamin A) can stress the liver.
- Hydration status: Dehydration may skew albumin or protein values.
- Menstrual cycle or fasting status: May subtly shift bilirubin or ALP.
Interfering factors such as hemolysis, icterus, and lipemia can affect the accuracy of laboratory tests and may lead to misleading test results.
What Are Normal Liver Function Test Levels?
Here’s a closer look at the typical reference ranges: The normal range for each enzyme or protein helps determine whether liver function is within healthy limits.
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Aspartate Transaminase (AST)
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
Gamma-GT
Serum Albumin
Serum Total Protein
Serum Bilirubin
Serum Globulin
What Is Considered a Deranged LFT?
A deranged liver function test refers to abnormal values in one or more markers. Interpreting liver function test results can help identify specific liver conditions based on the pattern of abnormalities. Depending on the pattern, it can point to:
- Hepatic cell damage (ALT and AST elevation)
- Cholestasis or bile blockage (GGT and ALP elevation)
- Synthetic dysfunction (low albumin or high bilirubin)
- Combined liver and metabolic stress (high GGT + high ALT + high triglycerides)
Some cases are mild and transient. Others require urgent follow-up. We assess this using clinical judgment, not just raw numbers.
Signs of Poor Liver Function
Even in the absence of symptoms, subtle signs may indicate declining liver function:
- Persistent fatigue: Your liver helps regulate energy — if it’s struggling, you will too.
- Brain fog or memory issues: Toxin buildup can impair cognition.
- Digestive bloating or gas: Often from bile issues or sluggish detox.
- Skin changes: Yellowing, itchiness, acne, or rashes.
- Weight gain around the middle: Common in fatty liver and metabolic dysfunction.
How to Prepare for a Liver Function Blood Test
- Fast: Avoid food and beverages (except water) for 8–12 hours.
- Avoid alcohol: For at least 48–72 hours before testing.
- Hold strenuous exercise: 24 hours prior if possible.
- List your medications: Some may affect results.
- Hydrate well: Dehydration can affect plasma protein levels.
A blood sample is typically collected from a vein in your arm by a healthcare provider for laboratory analysis.
What If My Liver Enzymes Are Elevated?
First: don’t panic. Elevated enzymes are like a smoke alarm — they tell us something’s going on, but not exactly what.
Next steps may include:
- Retesting after lifestyle adjustments
- Expanding blood work to include metabolic, inflammatory, or autoimmune markers
- Imaging such as abdominal ultrasound or FibroScan; imaging tests may also include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detailed assessment
- Medication review or changes
- Personalised intervention — diet, supplementation, alcohol changes, weight loss plan
In some cases, a liver biopsy may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis or assess the degree of liver fibrosis.
At Everlab, your doctor will help you interpret the results and build a plan tailored to your situation.
Sources
1. NIH – Liver Function Tests
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482489/
2. RACGP - Liver Function Tests
3. American Liver Foundation - Liver Function Tests
https://liverfoundation.org/about-your-liver/medical-terms/liver-function-tests/
4. Science Direct - Liver Function Test
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/liver-function-test
Get On Top Of Your Liver Health
The liver function test is a key tool for detecting silent signs of liver stress or damage — often before symptoms appear. Elevated liver enzymes can signal increased risk for metabolic, cardiovascular, or hormonal conditions. At Everlab, we analyse your liver health as part of a comprehensive diagnostic to uncover root causes and guide personalised action.
.png)
%402x%20(2).svg){kind=icon}