Liver Specific Blood Tests

When a patient is found to have abnormal liver function test, then a detailed history and risk assessment is needed to determine the probability of having chronic liver disease. However, in some case it may not be so apparent as to the cause of liver disease on this assessment. Therefore, liver specialists will use a panel of liver specific blood tests which may highlight the underlying cause of liver disease. The number of tests that the specialist will usually dependent of the risk assessment.

This panel will consist of:

• Hepatitis serology to include HBsAg and HCV IgG to look for Hepatitis B or C.
• Auto-Immune profile including Anti Nuclear Antibody, Anti Mitochondrial Antibody, Anti Smooth Muscle antibody,Anti Liver Kidney Mitochondrial Antibody and serum Immunoglobulins.
• Iron studies to look for a Genetic condition called Haemochromatosis.
• Alpha Feto Protein to assess for liver cancer.

Very rarely some additional test needs to be done depending on the risk assessment. These includes:

• Alpha 1 anti trypsin antibody.
• Serum Caeruloplasmin.
• Coeliac Disease antibody.
• HIV tests