The London Clinic through its Liver Centre provides access to the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease and performs private ALT Liver function tests.
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What is it for?
To help treat damaged liver cells
On this page
Overview
What is an ALT liver function test?
An ALT liver function test measures the level of alanine transaminase (ALT) in your blood.
ALT is a type of protein (enzyme) that’s released into your bloodstream when liver cells are damaged.
High levels of ALT in the blood can suggest you have a liver problem, even before you show any signs of liver disease.
Your ALT liver function test requires you to only give a tiny blood sample. And the results of your test are usually available to your consultant within hours.
At The London Clinic, your ALT blood test will take place in our state-of-the-art Liver Centre.
You’ll also come under the care of world-class liver specialists and an expert multidisciplinary team who are vastly experienced in this type of procedure.
As one of our patients, you’ll also receive exceptional personalised care and support that puts your wellbeing and recovery at the heart of your experience with us.
Contact us today to find out more about our ALT blood test service and start your five-star journey with The London Clinic.
FAQs
You can have an ALT liver function test once a year to help monitor any changes in your liver health.
This is particularly recommended for people at high risk of liver disease because of infection, an underlying condition or lifestyle factors.
There are certain conditions that can cause high levels of ALT, including:
Infection by chronic hepatitis viruses
Viral infections such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C can lead to a rise in ALT levels.Â
You can get a vaccine against hepatitis B to protect your liver, but not for hepatitis C.
Haemochromatosis
High levels of ALT could be a sign of the genetic liver disease haemochromatosis.Â
Haemochromatosis involves iron levels slowly building up in your body over many years.
Autoimmune hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis is when your body begins to attack its own liver cells. High levels of ALT can be a sign of this condition.
The main reasons why your levels of ALT may rise include:Â
Fatty liver disease
Fatty liver disease is when fat gets stored in your liver cells. This can happen due to eating a high fat diet, drinking a lot of alcohol, eating too much or not getting enough exercise.
If you are overweight, have type 2 diabetes or a raised cholesterol level, you may be at risk of having fat within your liver.Â
Drinking too much alcohol
Men who regularly drink more than 21 units of alcohol per week, and women who drink more than 14 units per week, are more likely to have high levels of ALT.
People who regularly drink a lot of alcohol over a short space of time (binge drink) are also at risk of high levels of ALT and damaging their liver cells.
Taking certain medicines
Using more than the recommended amount of certain medicines each day, such as paracetamol, may lead to liver damage.
If you are in pain and paracetamol isn’t helping, speak to your doctor for advice on a stronger painkiller that you can use.
Whenever you start taking a new medicine, check that you take it as your doctor or nurse advises. Â
While taking any medicine, look for signs that may mean your liver is being affected, such as yellow skin or yellow eye whites (jaundice).
An ALT test requires you to give a blood sample. This is obtained using a needle that’s inserted into a vein in your arm. We can numb your skin beforehand so you don’t feel pain.
It usually takes less than five minutes to collect a blood sample.
Your sample is then tested in our diagnostic laboratory to identify the level of ALT in your blood.
Information about your ALT level is sent back to your consultant hepatologist, usually the same day.
They will then get in touch with you to discuss your result and discuss any next steps.
You may want to have an ALT liver function test if you drink alcohol quite often, eat a lot of high fat foods, smoke, or have had liver problems in the past.
An ALT blood test is a simple procedure that can quickly tell you if your liver is healthy, or if there are potential problems that may need investigating further.
For some people, having their liver health checked with a simple ALT test can prevent health problems developing and even save their life.
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Why choose The London Clinic?
Trusted for over 90 years, The London Clinic is an independent charitable hospital that reinvests into care, research, and support for those who can’t easily access private treatment.
The UK’s largest independent hospital
More patients choose The London Clinic than any other.
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Full intensive care on-site
World-class 13-bed ICU for expert support if your care becomes complex.
Investing in clinical excellence
Backed by Northwestern, we equip our teams with cutting-edge medical equipment.
Your journey with us
Step 1 Talk to a consultant
You’ll start by meeting one of our expert consultants. They’ll take the time to understand your concerns, talk you through any symptoms or history, and discuss the next steps. If you need tests or scans, they’ll arrange them - often on the same day.
Step 2 Get the care you need
Whether you’re having further tests, a minor procedure or surgery, we’ll support you throughout. Our facilities include state-of-the-art diagnostics and comfortable private rooms, and you’ll be cared for by a specialist team who understand your condition and treatment pathway.
Step 3 Recover with expert aftercare
Care doesn’t end when your treatment does. From one-to-one nursing to specialist therapies and dedicated aftercare support, we’ll help you recover comfortably and confidently - with your consultant and wider care team staying involved throughout.
0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.