ALT (Alanine Transaminase)

Description: 
Quantitative determination of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in human serum.
Clinical details: 
ALT is found primarily in the liver and kidney. Activity is also seen in heart, skeletal muscle, pancreas, spleen and lung tissue. ALT is exclusively cytoplasmic.
It is one of the aminotransferase enzymes, which catalyze the interconversion of amino acids and α-ketoacids by transfer of amino groups.
Related condition or disease: 
Liver disease is the most important cause of increased ALT activity. Elevations of serum activitity are rarely observed in conditions other than parenchymal liver disease. It is a more liver-specific enzyme than AST and elevations of ALT activity persist longer than do those of AST activity.
Reference range: 

Male 4 - 59 Female 4 - 45

Synonyms or keywords: 
Alanine aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, (serum) glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT).
Units: 
IU/L
Department: 
Blood Sciences Department
Location: 
King's College Hospital
Sample type and Volume required: 
Serum
Turnaround time: 
1 day
Criteria for acceptance / rejections of sample
Storage and transport: 
Serum
Contacts:
Blood Sciences Department-Guy's And St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital
North Wing - 5th Floor
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Contact: 020 7188 9247

Guy's Hospital
Southwark Wing - 4th Floor
Great Maze Pond
London SE1 9RT
Contact: 020 7188 4781
Automated Chemistry Laboratory at Guy's and St Thomas' Clinical Advisory Service
Monday – Friday, 09:00-17:00 h: 07738897061
Out of hours, weekends & bank holidays: find details on Rotawatch on Trust intranet GTi, or contact via GSTT switchboard.
For clinical advice or interpretation of results, please contact the laboratory in the first instance.
Laboratory: 
Automated Chemistry Laboratory at Guy's and St Thomas'

Print as a PDF

Last updated: 07/08/2015