ALT

Alternative names, keywords

Alanine transaminase, SGPT

Samples required

● Clotted blood (gold cap, 5 mL tube). Smaller tubes are available for paediatric samples.

Avoid haemolysis.

Test indications

Factors affecting test performance/ results

Avoid haemolysis. Contamination with erythrocyte contents will elevate results, because the ALT activity in erythrocytes is higher than in normal serum. The degree of interference may be variable depending on the content of analyte in the lysed erythrocytes. Potentially affected results will be blocked.

Physiological serum concentrations of sulfasalazine and sulfapyridine may lead to false results.

Calcium dobesilate can cause artificially low ALT results at therapeutic concentrations.

Cyanokit (hydroxocobalamin) may cause interference.

In very rare cases, gammopathy, in particular type IgM (Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia), may cause unreliable results.

Results should always be assessed in conjunction with the patient’s medical history, clinical examination and other findings.

Reference range

male: up to 41 IU/L
female: up to 33 IU/L
_{Source: Roche Cobas^® ALT kit insert, 2023-09, V10.0}

Turnaround time

Same day (within 1h if urgent)

Enquiries

Biochemistry (Automation)