What is a liver function test?

 

A liver funtion test is a blood test that measures for levels of certain chemicals that indicate whether your liver may be damaged or diseased.

 

The blood sample can be taken by your doctor or nurse at your hospital or clinic and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.

 

How does the liver function test work?

 

The two chemical usually tested for are known as enzymes, specificly alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartarte aminotransferase (AST). These enzymes should only be present in liver cells, if liver cells become damaged the enzymes leak into the blood stream. So measuring the ALT and AST levels in your blood gives a reliable indication of liver damage or disease.

 

Until recently the only way to have a liver function test was (as stated above) by visiting your doctor, hospital or clinic. On the NHS the whole procedure can take many weeks, the test done privately usually cost over £400.

 

LiverCheck : Home Liver Function Test

 

LiverCheck is a unique home liver test developed by the award winning YorkTest Laboratories which enables you to check the health of you liver at home.

 

LiverCheck works in exactly the same way as the test your doctor would perform, by measuring the AST and ALT levels in your blood, but there is no need to visit you doctor or hospital.

 

With the test kit you take a small amount of blood yourself which is the analysed by YorkTest for the enzymes that indicate liver damage and you get the results within days.