The LFT blood test is a comprehensive medical examination that is used to determine the state of the liver and its functioning. The liver is one of the most important organs of the body and performs a range of functions that are significant to the digestive system and the endocrine system. The liver breaks down old red blood cells, cleans out certain toxins from the system and also provides juices that, when added to the digestive tract, aid digestion and absorption of food. The liver also helps in synthesizing proteins. Thus, it is safe to say that the liver performs many different vital functions and without this organ, it would be impossible for a person to live. The liver also produces many different products and byproducts as a result of the many processes being performed in the organ. These by products are usually found in the blood stream while some may be found in the urine.
The LFT blood test is also called the Liver Panel test and it is the complete testing procedure to test for seven different products that are found in the bloodstream as a result of normal liver activity. Medical research has led to further understanding on the subject and there are typical range values given for these substances in the blood. When testing is conducted, the results are compared with the values that are classified as normal. Any abnormal result can lead to a further medical investigation into the root cause for the variation. Often there may be temporary variations based on diet or recent physical activity and it is therefore useful to prepare for a liver function test based on the guidelines recommended to you by your doctor. More on liver function test results
A liver function test may be a routine procedure. It may also be ordered based on some symptoms that are present in an individual. These symptoms include jaundice, which causes the eyes to turn yellow, dark colored urine, light colored feces, and other symptoms of dietary distress including diarrhea, vomiting and indigestion. There may be more serious looking symptoms like dark or black feces, blood in the feces, blood in the vomit, and so on, which can all be linked to a failure of liver function which is causing some other organs to malfunction. A blood sample for the liver panel test would be drawn from the upper forearm of the patient which is then analyzed in a laboratory.
Submitted by N S on May 27, 2010 at 05:51