A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

Liver Function Panel

Liver enzymes, bilirubin, and proteins, all from one blood draw.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 2 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

This panel measures the liver enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP, total and direct bilirubin, albumin, and total protein, and calculates three more values. It is often used to check in on the liver or follow a past result. The enzymes show stress on the liver, not how well it works.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This panel is for adults checking in on liver health, following up on a past result, or tracking the liver while taking a medicine, with a healthcare provider reading the results.

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your results show how your liver enzymes, bilirubin, and proteins compare with the lab’s reference ranges, and the pattern can help a healthcare provider decide what to look at next.

Total protein
Total protein measures the two main groups of protein in your blood: albumin and globulins. These proteins carry substances through the body, help keep fluid inside blood vessels, and support the immune system. The total can shift with liver or kidney function, hydration, and inflammation.
Why it’s measured: A broad look at blood proteins made by the liver and immune system.
Albumin
Albumin is the main protein your liver makes. It helps keep fluid inside your blood vessels and carries hormones, vitamins, medicines, and minerals such as calcium through your blood. Levels can change with liver or kidney conditions, hydration, and longer-term illness.
Why it’s measured: Reflects liver protein production and fluid balance in the blood.
Globulin (calculated)
Globulins are a group of blood proteins that includes many of the antibodies your immune system makes, along with proteins that carry other substances. The lab calculates globulin by subtracting albumin from total protein, rather than measuring it on its own.
Why it’s measured: Adds context on the proteins in your blood other than albumin, including many antibodies.
Albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio
The A/G ratio compares your albumin result with your globulin result. The lab calculates it from the other two numbers. It does not point to a specific condition, but a provider may use it alongside your other protein and liver results to decide whether anything needs a closer look.
Why it’s measured: A calculated comparison that adds context to your protein results.
Bilirubin, total
Bilirubin is a yellow substance made when old red blood cells break down. Your liver processes it and sends it out in bile. Total bilirubin includes both the processed and unprocessed forms. A higher level can relate to the liver, the bile ducts, or faster breakdown of red blood cells.
Why it’s measured: Reflects how bilirubin from old red blood cells is made and cleared.
Bilirubin, direct
Direct bilirubin is the form your liver has already processed so it can leave the body in bile. Measuring it separately from total bilirubin helps a provider tell whether a raised total relates to the liver and bile ducts or to how red blood cells are being broken down.
Why it’s measured: Helps sort out where a raised total bilirubin may be coming from.
Bilirubin, indirect (calculated)
Indirect bilirubin is the form that has not yet been processed by your liver. The lab calculates it by subtracting direct bilirubin from total bilirubin. Read with the other two values, it helps a provider see where in the process a change may be happening.
Why it’s measured: Completes the bilirubin picture, calculated from total and direct.
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
ALP is an enzyme found mainly in your liver and bones, with smaller amounts in other tissues. A higher level can relate to the liver or bile ducts, or to bone growth or bone conditions. Because it comes from more than one place, it is usually read alongside GGT and other liver results.
Why it’s measured: An enzyme that can reflect stress on the liver, bile ducts, or bones.
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
AST is an enzyme found in your liver and also in your heart, muscles, and other tissues. When these cells are injured, AST leaks into the blood. Hard exercise, muscle strain, and some medicines can raise it, so it is read together with ALT and your other results.
Why it’s measured: An enzyme that rises when liver or muscle cells are under stress.
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
ALT is an enzyme found mostly in your liver. When liver cells are inflamed or injured, more ALT moves into the blood, so it is one of the more liver-specific enzymes. Alcohol, some medicines, and fat in the liver can raise it, and a provider reads it with AST and other results.
Why it’s measured: One of the more liver-specific enzymes on a routine panel, read alongside AST.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 2 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

Each result is reported with its unit, such as U/L for enzymes and mg/dL for bilirubin, and shown next to the lab’s reference range.

  • Each marker next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

A result outside its range may need a repeat or a follow-up test. A healthcare provider reads the full pattern with your history.

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

It includes ALT, AST, and ALP, enzymes that can rise when the liver is under stress; total, direct, and calculated indirect bilirubin; and albumin, total protein, calculated globulin, and the albumin to globulin ratio.

That is ten results from one blood draw, three of them calculated from the others.

Partly. Liver enzymes are markers of liver injury, not direct measures of liver function. Bilirubin and albumin give more of a view of what the liver makes and clears.

No single panel shows everything about the liver, so a healthcare provider may suggest repeat or added tests, such as GGT.

Different patterns point a healthcare provider in different directions. When ALT and AST are raised more than ALP, the change often relates to liver cells. When ALP and bilirubin are raised more, it often relates to bile flow.

These are clues, not a diagnosis, and they are read with your history and any other tests.

Yes. Hard exercise can raise AST, because muscles contain it. Some medicines can affect the liver, which is one reason people check this panel while taking them. A healthcare provider reads your results with that in mind. Don’t stop or change any medicine without talking with your healthcare provider.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.