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Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
Test CodeSGOT
Alias/See Also
SGOT
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Heparinized plasma
Transport Container
Serum separator tube (SST)
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Refrigerated: 7 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolysis • Anticoagulants other than heparin
Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)
Setup Schedule
24/7
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
0/37 IU/L
Clinical Significance
AST is widely distributed throughout the tissues with significant amounts being in the heart and liver. Lesser amounts are found in skeletal muscles, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, lungs, and brain. Injury to these tissues results in the release of the AST enzyme to general circulation. In myocardial infarction, serum AST may begin to rise within 6-8 hours after onset, peak within two days and return to normal by the fourth or fifth day post infarction. An increase in serum AST is also found with hepatitis, liver necrosis, cirrhosis, and liver metastasis.