ALT stands for alanine transaminase. It is an enzyme found mostly in the liver. An ALT test measures the amount of ALT in the blood.
When liver cells are damaged, they release ALT into the bloodstream. High levels of ALT in your blood may be a sign of a liver injury or disease. Some types of liver disease cause high ALT levels before you have symptoms of the disease. So, an ALT blood test may help diagnose certain liver diseases early.
Other names: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT), GPT
An ALT blood test is often part of a routine blood screening to check the health of your liver. The test may also help diagnose or monitor liver problems.
Your health care provider may order an ALT blood test, as part of a routine checkup. An ALT test is usually done with a group of other liver function tests that check how well your liver is working. These tests may also be ordered if you have symptoms of liver damage, such as:
Your provider may also order an ALT blood test if you have a high risk for liver damage because of: