Alanine Aminotransferase

Test Code

ALT

Alias/See Also

ALT, SGPT, Alanine Transminase, Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase

CPT Codes
84460

Preferred Specimen

Light GREEN (PST)

Other Acceptable Specimens

Serum (Red) or Gold (SST) or Orange (OJ) or Tiger Top Serum
Plasma-Heparin (Green)

Instructions

Separate serum/plasma from blood cells within 2 hours of collection.

Specimen Stability

ALT is stable in serum for 3 days when stored at 2 - 8°C or longer than 3 days when stored frozen at <= -20°C

Methodology
Beckman AU

Setup Schedule

24x7

Report Available

<1 day

Reference Range

	Female	Male
CRMC, CCMC, CCI, FHSH	7-35 U/L	10-40 U/L

Clinical Significance

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) measurements are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of certain liver diseases (e.g., viral and other acute and chronic forms of hepatitis, liver transplant, vascular problems of the liver, and cirrhosis) and heart disease that may secondarily cause liver injury, such as congestive heart failure. ALT is found in liver and kidney tissues. Liver cell injury leads to the release of the intracellular enzyme into the circulating blood. Markedly elevated serum ALT levels may be found in a variety of liver involved diseases, such as hepatitis, mononucleosis and cirrhosis and ALT is regarded as a reasonably specific indicator of liver disease.

Performing Laboratory
CRMC Laboratory
CCMC Laboratory
CCI Laboratory
FHSH Laboratory

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.