The serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) blood test is now known as the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) blood test, named as such because it measures that enzyme in the blood. ALT is typically found in the liver, but it may also be found in the pancreas, kidneys, muscles, and even the heart. This blood test is usually ordered by a medical provider to determine if there has been damage to an individual’s liver or if it may be diseased.
Low levels of ALT are almost always found in the blood. This is considered a normal result and would be what most people would have today if they were to have their results explained. For individuals who have a diseased or damaged liver, however, there will be higher levels of ALT that are discovered on this blood test.
What Do My Test Results Mean?
Most tests are ordered to determine the extent of injury or damage to the liver that someone may have. The SGPT ALT blood test is typically ordered with the AST and LDH blood tests for a complete picture of liver health. Bilirubin levels may also be examined during this process. The ALT levels are considered a reliable test to determine if liver damage has occurred.
The most common issue that is detected with this blood test is liver disease caused by cirrhosis or a hepatitis infection. Any damage that has been caused by a virus, by alcohol, or by drug use [including prescription drug use] can be detected with this blood test. Results are reported in units per liter [U/L] for most laboratories.
The normal range for ALT is 10-40 U/L for men and 7-35 U/L for women.
Some laboratories may report results in a unit called “microkatals” instead. In that case, normal results for men would be 0.17-0.68 and 0.12-0.60 for women.
My Test Results Were High… Now What?
If your SGPT ALT blood test results came back with high values, then there are a number of conditions that your medical provider will need to evaluate based on this and other test results. In young children, high ALT levels can actually be an indicator that a growth spurt is occurring and is a medically insignificant result. Here are some of the other diagnostic options that will be considered.
- Lead poisoning or exposure to benziform.
- The decay of a large tumor that exists somewhere in the body.
- The presence of medication, including statins, aspirin, and antibiotics.
Mononucelosis is also known to cause high ALT levels in some individuals, as will barbituate use or the use of other types of narcotics, including oxycodone. Certain herbal products, most notably echinacea, will also cause a false high result. Viral infections tend to create the highest results, sometimes being more than 10x the normal range.
Something as simple as an injury during a workout session may also cause high levels of ALT.
Any vaccinations that have recently been received or muscle injury of any kind will affect results. Be sure to communicate these potential issues with your medical provider before the blood draw occurs for accurate test results.
What If My Test Results Are Low?
Levels of ALT are naturally low in the blood. If you have levels that fall outside of the normal range in the low values, then this is typically treated as a normal result. There may be additional testing required if the other blood tests that were ordered with the ALT test have abnormal results as well.
There may be medical significance in a low ALT test result that falls outside of the scope of liver damage or disease. Only your medical provider can tell you what your test results mean in regards to your medical history in this instance.
The good news is that the SGPT ALT blood test is almost organ specific.
If values are slightly above normal and chest pains were felt, then this could be indicative of a small heart attack that recently occurred. Otherwise if there have been no known muscle injuries, the abnormal levels can be explained because of a liver issue.
Most people who have this test ordered will wind up receiving results in the normal range. If your results are high, however, then be sure to discuss what your results may be with your medical provider. In doing so, the SGPT ALT blood test results explained here will help to create an effective treatment plan.