THE GAMMA-GLUTAMYL TRANSFERASE (GGT) TEST MEASURES THE LEVEL OF GGT, AN ENZYME PRIMARILY FOUND IN THE LIVER, IN YOUR BLOOD. ELEVATED GGT LEVELS OFTEN INDICATE LIVER DAMAGE OR BILE DUCT PROBLEMS. ITS PARTICULARLY HELPFUL IN DIFFERENTIATING LIVER-RELATED ISSUES FROM BONE DISORDERS, AS GGT IS LESS AFFECTED BY BONE CONDITIONS. ADDITIONALLY, GGT IS A SENSITIVE MARKER FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE, AS CHRONIC ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES ITS LEVELS. THEREFORE, THIS TEST IS COMMONLY USED TO SCREEN FOR AND MONITOR LIVER DISEASE, BILE DUCT OBSTRUCTIONS, AND ALCOHOL-RELATED LIVER DAMAGE.

Hemoglobin electrophoresis is a blood test that separates and analyzes different types of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen. This test helps diagnose hemoglobinopathies, genetic disorders that affect the structure or production of hemoglobin. Conditions like sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and other less common hemoglobin disorders can be identified through hemoglobin electrophoresis. Its often used as a screening tool for newborns and adults at risk for these disorders.

PROTHROMBIN TIME (PT) STUDIES ASSESS YOUR BLOODS CLOTTING ABILITY. IT MEASURES HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR A BLOOD CLOT TO FORM. THIS TEST IS ESSENTIAL FOR DIAGNOSING BLEEDING DISORDERS, MONITORING ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY LIKE WARFARIN, AND EVALUATING LIVER FUNCTION. BY ANALYZING CLOTTING FACTORS, PT HELPS DETERMINE IF YOUR BLOOD CLOTS TOO QUICKLY OR TOO SLOWLY, WHICH CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF BLEEDING OR BLOOD CLOTS.

SGPT (ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE) OR ALT IS A BLOOD TEST THAT MEASURES THE LEVEL OF AN ENZYME PRIMARILY FOUND IN THE LIVER. WHEN LIVER CELLS ARE DAMAGED, ALT IS RELEASED INTO THE BLOODSTREAM. ELEVATED ALT LEVELS CAN INDICATE LIVER DAMAGE OR DISEASE, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE RAISED IN CONDITIONS AFFECTING OTHER ORGANS. THIS TEST IS COMMONLY USED ALONG WITH OTHER LIVER ENZYMES, LIKE AST, TO ASSESS LIVER HEALTH AND DIAGNOSE LIVER PROBLEMS.