I Can Tell You What Medical Tests My Child Is Getting, and What They Are For. Your Child Will Have Many Tests Before and After the Liver Transplant

Our Journey with Liver Transplant

Si usted desea esta información en español, por favor pídasela a su enfermero o doctor. I can tell you what medical tests my child is getting, and what they are for. Your child will have many tests before and after the liver transplant. You will hear their names, and learn their results. Here is a list of some of these tests, and what they are for.

Liver function tests (or LFTs) are blood tests that look at the state of the liver and the biliary system. Liver function tests don’t all look at the liver, but together tell us how healthy the liver is. They are:

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) – an enzyme that goes up in liver disease

Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) – an enzyme that goes up in liver disease

Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT) – an enzyme that is in the liver. This goes up in liver disease, especially when it is caused by alcohol.

Alkaline Phosphatase – an enzyme that comes from the bone, liver, and placenta, that goes up in liver disease

Bilirubin – is made when hemoglobin in the red blood cells breaks down. Usually, the liver removes bilirubin and puts it in the bile, where it leaves the body. Bilirubin levels in the blood go up in liver disease.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) – is a waste product made in the liver and the kidneys put it in the urine, where it leaves the body. Blood levels of BUN go up when there is kidney failure.

Albumin – is a protein made in the liver that helps keeps the water in the body, in the right places. It goes down in liver disease.

© 2014 Phoenix Children’s Hospital 1 of 2 Prothrombin Time (PT) – Prothrombin is a protein made by the liver and it helps the blood clot. Prothrombin time is the time it takes the blood to clot. Prothrombin time is longer in liver disease.

Platelets – parts of the blood that help it clot.

Creatinine – forms when muscle breaks down. Creatinine levels go up when there is kidney failure.

White Blood Cell (WBC) – blood cells that protect against infection. They go down in liver disease.

Tests for viruses:

CMV antibody - tests for CMV infection

EBV antibody - for the Epstein-Barr virus

Hepatitis A viral antibody (glum) – tests for Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) – tests for either acute or chronic infection with Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) – a positive result means there was a past infection, or you’re infected now

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb) – a positive result means the person is successfully immunized against Hepatitis B

ELISA essay to test for hepatitis C – tests for hepatitis C

HIV testing – a positive result means the person has been infected with HIV

Toxoplasmosis – a positive result means the person has been infected with Toxoplasmosis.

Disclaimer The information provided at this site is intended to be general information, and is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to take the place of examination, treatment, or consultation with a physician. Phoenix Children’s Hospital urges you to contact your physician with any questions you may have about a medical condition.