This comprehensive Liver Panel encompasses a set of 10 biomarkers through a single testing procedure.
Overview
The Comprehensive Liver Panel is an inclusive assessment commonly referred to as a Liver Function Test. This array of blood tests provides critical insights into the enzymes, proteins, and other substances produced or processed by the liver. It’s instrumental in diagnosing liver conditions and gauging the liver’s capacity to filter and synthesize chemicals within the body.
Alternate Terms: Hepatic Panel, Liver Health Profile, LFT, Hepatic Enzyme Assay, Hepatology Blood Screening
Method of Collection
Venipuncture
Type of Sample
Blood Serum
Pre-test Requirements
Fasting is not necessary.
The Hepatic Function Panel test is utilized in various clinical scenarios to investigate and monitor the liver’s well-being:
- Detecting Liver Disorders: It serves as a standard method to gauge liver wellness, particularly for those at increased risk due to factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, high body weight, viral liver infections, or contact with liver-damaging agents.
- Investigating Elevated Liver Enzymes: When initial blood work or physical symptoms suggest an increase in liver enzymes, this panel helps pinpoint the underlying issues and gauge the degree of hepatic impairment or irregular function.
- Tracking Liver Condition Management: Patients with established liver conditions, including viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, undergo this test routinely to follow the course of their illness, gauge the response to treatments, and monitor ongoing liver function.
- Surgical Preparation Assessment: The Hepatic Function Panel is sometimes mandated before surgery to ensure the liver is functioning optimally, which is critical for enduring the surgical procedure and effectively processing medications.
Tests Frequently Conducted Alongside a Hepatic Function Panel:
- Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
- Prothrombin Time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)
- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD)
- Hepatitis A, B, and C Screening
- Toxicology for Emergency Situations and Overdose Assessment
- Blood Alcohol Content (Ethanol)
- Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)
- Smooth Muscle Antibody Test
- Liver Kidney Microsome Type 1 Antibody (Anti-LKM-1)
- Substance Abuse Panels
- Serum Copper and Ceruloplasmin for Wilson’s Disease
- Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP)
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) for Cancer Markers
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Level
- Acetaminophen Levels
- Ammonia Concentrations
Situations Where a Hepatic Function Panel is Suggested:
- Liver Disorders: This panel is essential for the diagnosis, ongoing assessment, and management of liver conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), toxic liver damage, and autoimmune liver disorders.
- Monitoring Alcohol Impact: For those with a history of significant alcohol intake, Hepatic Function Panel tests are critical for evaluating the liver’s status and the degree of hepatic impact due to alcohol consumption.
- Drug-Related Liver Concerns: Patients undergoing treatments with known hepatotoxic medications may undergo this panel to track the health of the liver and identify any potential medication-related liver damage.