ALT

Message

Test performed at York Hospital Laboratory.

Test Code

ALT

Alias/See Also

SGPT

CPT Codes
84460

Preferred Specimen

0.2 mL serum collected in a serum separator tube (SST)

Other Acceptable Specimens

0.2 mL serum collected in a no additive (red-top) tube, transferred to a plastic screw-cap vial 0.2 mL plasma collected in a lithium heparin (green-top) gel separator tube

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 3 days
Refrigerated: 1 week
Frozen: Not recommended

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Hemolyzed specimen

Methodology
Spectrophotometry

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

Next Day
Available STAT 1/2 Hour

Reference Range

Age	ALT (U/L) Male	ALT (U/L) Female
<3 Years	< 45	< 45
4-6 Years	< 25	< 25
7-9 Years	< 35	< 35
10-11 Years	< 35	< 30
12-13 Years	< 55	< 30
14-15 Years	< 45	< 30
16-19 Years	< 40	< 35
Adult	< 56	< 56

Clinical Significance

ALT is present in high activity in liver, skeletal muscle, heart, and kidney. Serum ALT increases rapidly in liver cell necrosis, hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, liver tumors, obstructive jaundice, Reye's syndrome, extensive trauma to skeletal muscle, myositis, myocarditis, and myocardial infarction.

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.