What are liver function tests used for?
To help diagnose liver disorders if you have suggestive symptoms (such as jaundice). The pattern of the blood results may help to say which disorder is causing the problem. For example, depending on which enzyme is highest it may point to a particular disorder. To monitor the activity and severity of liver disorders. As a routine precaution after starting certain medicines to check that they are not causing liver damage as a side-effect. Other tests of the liver Liver function tests are useful, and are often the first marker of disease in the liver. However, other tests of the liver may also be done to confirm the diagnosis of a particular disorder, and/or to monitor the activity of the disorder and response to treatment. Other blood tests which may be done include: Blood clotting tests. The liver makes many of the proteins needed to make blood clot. In certain liver disorders the liver cannot make enough of these proteins and so blood does not clot so well. Therefore, blood clotting t
