What is the purpose of this test?
A Liver Profile #2 Essential Blood Test Panel is a group of blood tests that measure certain enzymes, proteins, and substances produced or processed by the liver. The tests help to evaluate the liver's overall health and identify any potential liver damage or disease.
The liver profile blood test results may help detect liver problems early, even before symptoms appear. This can be especially beneficial for patients who have risk factors for liver disease, such as a history of alcohol abuse, hepatitis, or certain medications that can damage the liver.
In addition, a liver profile blood test can also help doctors monitor the effectiveness of treatments for liver disease and evaluate the progression of liver damage. A liver profile blood test can provide vital information to help patients maintain good liver health and prevent serious liver problems.
The Liver Profile #2 Essential Blood Test Panel includes:
Cholesterol, Total - A cholesterol total test measures the total amount of cholesterol in a person's blood. The test helps to assess a person's risk of developing heart disease and stroke. High cholesterol levels can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, which can increase the risk of these conditions. The test is usually done as part of a routine checkup or to monitor someone on cholesterol-lowering medication. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels through a balanced diet, regular exercise, and other lifestyle changes is important to reduce the risk of heart disease and other related health problems.
Hepatic Function Panel - A hepatic function panel is a blood test that is used to assess the health of a person's liver. It measures the levels of various enzymes, proteins, and other substances that are produced by the liver and released into the bloodstream. The test can help diagnose liver disease, monitor the progression of a liver condition, and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. The hepatic function panel typically includes tests for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, and albumin.
- Protein, Total - Assists in determining liver and kidney function and nutritional health.
- Albumin Serum - One of the major proteins essential for the healthy function of the liver and kidney.
- Globulin, Total - One of the major proteins that assist the blood to clot properly and also comprises infection-fighting antibodies.
- Albumin/Globulin Ratio - Calculated by dividing albumin by globulin. When paired with other test results, this ratio can assist in diagnosing various liver problems.
- Bilirubin, Total - Aids in detecting hepatitis, sickle cell, anemia, cirrhosis, alcohol, and drug abuse. High concentrations may result in jaundice.
- Alkaline Phosphatase - A protein vital in detecting bone disorders and liver disease.
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) - An enzyme helpful in evaluating liver function. An elevated level is an indication of hepatitis.
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT) - An enzyme helpful in identifying liver damage. Abnormalities may represent liver disease.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) With Differential and Platelets - measures various components of the blood, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. An abnormal CBC result can indicate anemia, infection, inflammation, or other blood disorders affecting kidney function.
- White Blood Cells (WBC) - The body's primary defense against disease and helps to fight infection.
- Red Blood Cells (RBC) - Responsible for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide away from all cells. Iron deficiency will lower the RBC count.
- Hemoglobin - A chemical compound inside red cells that transports oxygen through the bloodstream to all body cells. Hemoglobin gives the red color to blood.
- Hematocrit - Measures the amount of space red blood cells take up in the blood. It is reported as a percentage.
- Neutrophils - Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cells created by the bone marrow to combat various inflammatory and infectious diseases.
- Lymphocytes - B-cells and T-cells are lymphocytes that fight bacteria and other pathogens in the blood. They are primarily found in the lymph system.
- Monocytes - Working alongside neutrophils, monocytes play a vital role in fighting infections and other diseases and clearing away dead or damaged cells.
- Eosinophils - White blood cells called eosinophils activate in response to allergies and certain infections.
- Basophils - Basophils play a role in detecting infections early on, aiding in wound healing, and reacting to allergic responses.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) - The average hemoglobin concentration within a red blood cell.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) - A red blood cell's average hemoglobin concentration percentage.
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - The average size of red blood cells.
- Platelets - Blood cell particles associated with the forming of blood clots.
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) - Measures the amount of red blood cell variation in volume and size.
- Absolute Neutrophils - The absolute neutrophil count measures the number of neutrophils in your blood. Normal range is 2,500-7,000 per microliter. Counts outside this range indicate a possible condition.
- Absolute Lymphocytes - To calculate your absolute lymphocyte count, multiply your white blood cell count by the percentage of lymphocytes. This gives you the number of lymphocytes as an absolute number.
- Absolute Monocytes - The absolute monocyte count indicates the number of monocytes in the blood, helping to identify if the count is normal, high, or low.
- Absolute Eosinophils - Absolute eosinophil count measures the number of eosinophils in blood by multiplying the percentage of eosinophils in a complete blood count with the total number of white blood cells in the same count.
- Absolute Basophils - Absolute basophil count is calculated by multiplying the percentage of basophils by the total number of white blood cells in a blood sample.
LD or LDH - An LDH test, or lactate dehydrogenase test, is a blood test that measures the level of LDH in the blood. LDH is an enzyme found in many body tissues, including the heart, liver, and muscles. The purpose of the LDH test is to help diagnose and monitor various medical conditions that can cause tissue damage or cell death, such as liver disease, heart attack, or cancer. The test may also be used to monitor the effectiveness of certain treatments or to check for recurrence of a medical condition.
GGT - The purpose of a GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) test is to measure the level of the enzyme GGT in the blood. GGT is mainly found in the liver and is involved in the metabolism of drugs and toxins. The test is often conducted as part of a liver function test to diagnose liver diseases, such as hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis. It can also be used to monitor the treatment progress for these conditions. In addition, the test may be used to detect excessive alcohol consumption, as GGT levels tend to be elevated in heavy drinkers.
Prothrombin time (PT) - The prothrombin time (PT) test measures the time it takes for a clot to form in a blood sample. The test is usually used to monitor the effectiveness of blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin (Coumadin), which is commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots. By measuring the clotting time, the test can help healthcare providers determine if the medication works properly and adjust the dosage if needed. The PT test can also be used to diagnose bleeding disorders or liver disease, which can affect the body's ability to form clots. Overall, a PT test aims to assess blood clotting function and ensure that the patient is receiving appropriate treatment.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) - is a blood test that measures the level of AFP protein in the blood. This test is commonly used as a tumor marker to monitor the progression of certain types of cancer, such as liver cancer, testicular cancer, and ovarian cancer. It can also be used to detect certain congenital disabilities, such as neural tube defects, abdominal wall defects, and kidney problems, in unborn babies during pregnancy. - Patients with chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B must be monitored at regular intervals because they have a lifetime risk of developing liver cancer. A doctor may order an AFP test, along with imaging studies, to try to detect liver cancer when it is in its earliest, and most treatable, stages.
