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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Test Code38437
CPT Codes
84460<br /> Limited Access Code
Preferred Specimen
1 mL serum collected in serum separator tube (SST)
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
Plasma collected in sodium heparin or lithium heparin (green-top) tube, or plasma separator tube (PST)
Instructions
Centrifuge serum specimens within 1 hour of collection, transfer serum to a sterile, plastic, screw-capped vial(s), and ship at room temperature.
Transport Container
Sterile plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 5 days
Frozen: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 5 days
Frozen: Unacceptable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Anticoagulants other than heparin
Methodology
Spectrophotometric
Setup Schedule
Set up: Daily; Report available: Next day
Reference Range
Age | Males (U/L) | Females (U/L) |
< month | 3-25 | 3-25 |
1-11 months | 4-35 | 3-30 |
1-3 years | 5-30 | 5-30 |
4-12 years | 8-30 | 8-24 |
13-15 years | 7-32 | 6-19 |
16-19 years | 8-46 | 5-32 |
≥ 20 years | 9-46 | 6-29 |
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.