Delhi is a highly urbanized area in India. It presents both the rich Indian history and the exceptional modernity that continuously surges in the country. It also has some of the best healthcare services offered by the top medical professionals in the world.
Like most cities, healthcare in Delhi is divided among government-run and private facilities. While public hospitals provide free services, some people would have their Liver Function Tests (LFT) in private facilities because of the affordable LFT test price in Delhi. They only need to worry about their LFT results instead of worrying about spending on it.
What Are The Common Liver Functions?
The liver is one of the most important organs of the body. It has plenty of functions that help people live a normal life. Some of its common functions include detoxification of the blood, production of vital blood clotting factors, albumin, and other essential protein, and processing of nutrients and medications. The liver is also responsible for the processing of the waste products of hemoglobin and other blood cells. The organ can also store fat, cholesterol, vitamins, and bile. It is also the organ used for glucose production.
What Are Liver Function Tests?
The LFT, also called liver chemistries, can help figure out the health of a person’s liver by measuring the levels of the liver, enzymes, and bilirubin in the blood. Doctors recommend LFT for patients with the following conditions:
- To evaluate the damages caused by liver infections like Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
- To check the side effects of specific medications that can harm the liver
- To monitor an existing liver disease and its response to treatments
- To determine a possible liver disorder
- To check if the patient has certain health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, triglycerides, and anemia
- To check the liver function of people who heavily drink alcohol
- To monitor people with gallbladder diseases
What Are The Usual LFT Tests?
The LFT tests are conducted to measure different proteins and enzymes in the blood. Depending on the kind of test required by the doctor, a higher- or lower than the standard protein or enzyme level may indicate abnormalities in the liver.
Some of the most typical LFT required by doctors include:
Alanine Transaminase (ALT) Test
Alanine transaminase is an enzyme that helps the body to metabolize protein. If there are abnormalities in the liver, the ALT may be released into the blood. The high levels of this enzyme may be an indicator of possible liver damage. Health experts shared that the normal levels of ALT are between 29 to 33 IU per liter. If the patient’s test results came back higher than the standard level, the doctors might require medical intervention.
Aspartate aminotransferase Test(AST)
The AST is an enzyme present in various parts of the body. As AST levels could not be considered a sole indicator for liver damages, it is often paired with the ALT. The AST seeps through the bloodstream if the liver has any damage. If the blood contains higher than 40 IU per liter AST levels among adult patients, it means there is a problem with the liver and its surrounding muscles.
Alkaline Phosphatase Test(ALP)
The ALP is an enzyme present in a person’s liver, bile ducts, and bones. The normal range for ALP in the body can be up to 120 IU/L for adults. But if the test results revealed that the ALP is higher, it could mean that the person has liver inflammation, blocked bile ducts, or bone disease.
Albumin Tests
Albumin is known as the main protein produced by the liver. It is essential for numerous body functions, such as nourishing the tissues, preventing fluid from leaking out of the blood vessels, and transports hormones and other nutrients all over the body. The standard range for normal albumin is 3.5 to 5.0 grams per decilitre. But those with low albumin may either have inflammation, kidney disease, infection, or poor nutrition.
Bilirubin Tests
Bilirubin is the protein that serves as a waste product from the breakdown of the red blood cells. The liver usually metabolizes it. It passes through the organ before getting excreted through the stool. The normal bilirubin range is 0.1 to 1.2 milligrams per decilitre. If the test results revealed that the bilirubin is elevated, it could mean that the liver is not functioning properly.
Preparing for the LFT tests requires guidance from the doctors. Some may have to avoid various foods and medicines before the tests to prevent them from affecting the blood’s proteins and enzymes. Most patients in India do not have to worry about the LFT test price in Delhi since there are facilities that provide affordable and accurate tests all the time.