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Test Code ALT Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) (GPT), Serum

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Serum


Necessary Information


Patient's age and sex are required.



Specimen Required


Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and aliquoted within 2 hours of collection.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.25 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  7 days

Reference Values

Males

≥1 year: 7-55 U/L

Reference values have not been established for patients who are <12 months of age.

Females

≥1 year: 7-45 U/L

Reference values have not been established for patients who are <12 months of age.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

CPT Code Information

84460

Clinical Information

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is present primarily in liver cells. In viral hepatitis and other forms of liver disease associated with hepatic necrosis, serum ALT is elevated even before the clinical signs and symptoms of the disease appear. Although serum levels of both aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and ALT become elevated whenever disease processes affect liver cell integrity, ALT is a more liver-specific enzyme. Serum elevations of ALT are rarely observed in conditions other than parenchymal liver disease. Moreover, the elevation of ALT activity persists longer than does AST activity.

Report Available

Same day/1 to 2 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject

Method Name

Photometric Rate, L-Alanine with Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate