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Is your liver functioning as well as it could be? Discover whether your liver is inflamed or has poor function with simple at home blood Liver Function test.

Your liver is a key organ in your body. It has many important jobs including breaking down fats to aid digestion, fighting illness and infections for immunity, removing toxins from your body, controlling cholesterol levels, clotting the blood, and storing key nutrients and energy in the form of glycogen.

The liver can become damaged and work ineffectively due to a number of reasons including, that you:

• Are a heavy drinker and consume large amounts of alcohol regularly.
• Eat a poor diet
• Take performance enhancing drugs
• Suffer from an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.
• Have family history or liver or gastrointestinal infection, and/or gallstones.
• Are taking medication that harms your liver.

Once the liver is damaged, it can months to recover, or in more serious cases fail completely.

How do you know if you have liver problems?

The symptoms of the beginnings of liver disease, which can lead to the more serious liver damage, are not always obvious. Some people have a dull pain is felt in the upper right-hand area of the abdomen, just below the rib, where the liver is inflamed, whereas other people have more subtle signs.

What are the symptoms of reduced Liver Function?

If your liver is not working as well as it should be, common symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite
• Swelling in your stomach
• Dark Urine
• Light-coloured stool
• Nausea
• Chronic Fatigue
• Yellowish Eyes or Skin (Jaundice)

How do I get tested for Liver Function?

You can measure Liver Function and the health of your liver with a simple blood test to check your liver. The liver blood test will measure the number of proteins and blood markers within your blood, with the results confirming whether your liver is functioning correctly or not.

You can also check whether your liver function is improving by a blood test if you are repairing your liver or making a lifestyle change.

The blood test to check your liver function looks for the following biomarkers:

• Total Protein
  This measures the total level of protein in the blood, mainly albumin and globulin. Low protein levels can indicate liver or kidney disease, whilst high levels can be a sign of dehydration.
• Albumin
  The liver produces a protein called Albumin. Albumin nourishes tissues and transports essential components, such as hormones, vitamin, and drugs throughout the blood.
• Globulin
  Globulin is a group of proteins created in the liver and undertake a wide various of functions in the body and liver function including blood clotting and fighting infection. If globulin levels are low, it may be indicate liver disease whereas high levels can be a sign of inflammation, infection or even immune disorders.
• Bilirubin
  Bilirubin is a waste product produced the normal breakdown of red blood cells. It is usually excreted in bile and urine and has a distinctive yellow colour. Bilirubin is what causes the yellow in bruises and jaundice. Increased levels of Bilirubin in the bloodstream can be caused by liver damage or reduced liver function.
• Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
  Alkaline Phosphatase, or ALP, is an enzyme commonly found in the liver and bones, but also in small amounts in the kidney and intestines. High levels of ALP can indicate liver problems, whereas low levels can be a sign of magnesium deficiency, osteoporosis, malnutrition, hypothyroidism, or certain types of leukaemia.
• Gamma GT
  Gamma GT, or glutamyltransferase, is an enzyme that is found in the liver. It can be detected in the blood if there is damage or injury to the liver.
• Alanine Transferase (ALT)
  Alanine Transferase, also known as ALT, is an enzyme that is produced by heart and liver cells. Levels of ALT are usually very low in the body. ALT is released into the blood when there is acute damage to the heart and/or liver, so a high level in the blood can be a sign of liver damage or disease.

Find out whether your liver is functioning as well as it could be, with liver function blood test. Discover the right test for you.

Key points:

• If you are worried about whether your liver is functioning as well as it could be, you can find the answer with a simple blood Liver Function test.
• Your liver is a key organ in your body. It has many important jobs including breaking down fats to aid digestion and removing toxins from your body.
• The liver can become damaged and work ineffectively due to a number of reasons including, that you consume large amounts of alcohol regularly, eat a poor diet or have family history or liver or gastrointestinal infection.
• Get tested for peace of mind and to find the answer to any symptoms you may have.

How a Sample is Taken

For the Liver Function Health Test, a sample of your blood is taken and tested for ‘Biomarkers’ which show whether you have a healthy liver or not.

With most health tests, there are two options for taking a sample of blood, which is used to test for certain biomarkers. The two most common options are a finger-prick or venous draw:

Finger prick Draw:
Health Tests that take blood via the ‘finger-prick’ method are usually done within the comfort of your own home, enabling you to take a small amount of blood discreetly and conveniently when you want to.  

Venous Draw:
Once you have booked your health test, you’ll be sent the blood kit which includes all the equipment needed for a professional blood draw by an experienced healthcare professional, with clinics available across the UK to take your sample.

Details about which option is available for this health test, are available when you compare the results.v

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does a damaged liver feel like?

  Liver pain is felt in the upper right-hand area of the abdomen, just below the rib. It’s a tender pain, that can sometimes be quite severe and cause backache. If you are in pain, we recommend seeking the advice of a GP immediately or doing a liver function test to find out whether your liver is functioning correctly or not.

• What are the symptoms of poor liver function?

  If you liver is not working as well as it should be, common symptoms include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Swelling in your stomach
  • Dark Urine
  • Light-coloured stool
  • Nausea
  • Chronic Fatigue
  • Yellowish Eyes or Skin (Jaundice)

• Does the liver heal after alcohol consumption?

  Yes, the liver can regenerate and heal itself, but you will need to give it time to do so. Each time your liver filters alcohol, some of the liver cells die. It can develop new cells but prolonged drinking of alcohol and excess consumption can reduce its ability to regenerate effectively.

• What are the functions of the liver?

  Your liver is a key organ in your body. It has many important jobs including:

  1. Breaking down fats to aid digestion
  2. Fighting illness and infections to aid the bodies immunity
  3. Removing toxins from your body
  4. Controlling cholesterol levels
  5. Clotting the blood
  6. Storing key nutrients and energy in the form of glycogen.

• Can you live without a liver?

  No. Your liver is a vital organ of the body and you cannot live without it. However, it is possible to live with only part of your liver.

• How can I improve my liver function?

  To help your liver function at its optimum, there are several ways to keep it healthy and working correctly. These include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, drinking alcohol responsibly and avoiding the use of drugs.