How is a liver function test performed?

Jan 25, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Gao Jun

Introduction

Generally, liver function tests include items such as blood biochemical tests, imaging examinations, liver stiffness measurement, virological tests, and liver biopsy. The specific procedures vary depending on the type of examination. When undergoing liver function testing, it is important to follow the recommendations and guidance of a physician. Additionally, the interpretation of liver function test results should be done in combination with clinical symptoms, other examination findings, and the patient's medical history.

Generally, liver function tests include items such as blood biochemical tests, imaging examinations, liver stiffness measurement, virological tests, and liver biopsy. Different examination items involve different specific procedures. Detailed analyses are as follows:

1. Blood Biochemical Tests

These tests involve drawing a certain amount of venous blood and using biochemical analyzers to measure various biochemical indicators in the blood, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), indirect bilirubin (IBil), albumin (Alb), and globulin (Glob). These indicators reflect whether the liver's metabolic, detoxification, synthetic, and bile excretion functions are normal.

2. Imaging Examinations

Imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used for non-invasive liver evaluation. These examinations allow observation of the liver's shape, size, structure, and presence of space-occupying lesions such as tumors, cysts, and fatty liver disease.

3. Liver Stiffness Measurement

This test uses transient elastography, in which a probe emits ultrasound waves into the liver and measures their propagation speed to assess liver stiffness. This non-invasive examination evaluates the degree of liver fibrosis and provides important evidence for early diagnosis of cirrhosis.

4. Virological Tests

Blood samples are analyzed using molecular biology techniques to detect hepatitis virus markers in the blood, such as hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis C virus RNA. These tests determine whether there is a viral infection in the liver and assess the viral load and replication activity.

5. Liver Biopsy

Under ultrasound or CT guidance, a fine needle is used to puncture the liver tissue for pathological examination. This test can precisely determine the nature, severity, and extent of liver lesions and is one of the most accurate methods for diagnosing liver diseases.

When undergoing liver function tests, it is important to follow medical advice and instructions to ensure accuracy and safety. Additionally, liver function test results should be interpreted in combination with clinical symptoms, other test findings, and patient history to enable physicians to make accurate diagnoses and assessments.

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