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Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Test CodeSGPT
Alias/See Also
SGPT
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum
Patient Preparation
The assay manufacturer, Beckman Coulter, warns that patients treated with sulfasalazine may generate false low results for ALT.
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Heparinized plasma
Transport Container
Serum separator tube (SST)
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Anticoagulants other than heparin
Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)
Setup Schedule
24/7
Report Available
Same day
Limitations
Trauma to striated muscle, tissue, rhabdomyolysis, polymyositis, and dermatomyositis may produce increased results. Hemolyzed samples may yield elevated results. Some illegal drugs (cocaine, anabolic steroids, ecstasy) may also produce increased results.
Reference Range
0-40 IU/L
Clinical Significance
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) measurements are particularly useful in the diagnosis and management of certain liver diseases, e.g., viral hepatitis and cirrhosis. ALT activity in tissue is generally much lower than aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and is found in highest concentrations in the liver. Significant elevations of ALT occur only in diseases of the liver. ALT is often measured in conjunction with AST to determine whether the source of the AST is the liver or the heart. ALT is normally not elevated in cases of myocardial infarction, i.e., a normal ALT, in conjunction with an elevated AST, tends to suggest cardiac disease. However, slight elevations of ALT may occur if an infarct destroys a very large volume of heart muscle.
