Aspartate transaminase (AST)
| Category | Biochemistry |
|---|---|
| Test background |
AST is found in the liver, heart, muscle, kidney and brain and is released into serum when any one of these tissues is damaged. Due to its non-specificity it is usually measured in conjunction with other analytes, however, it is a better correlate than related enzymes, eg. ALT in the context of gauging severity of tissue damage as it is typically associated with (mitochondrial) organelles. |
| Clinical Indications |
Used in conjunction with ALP for diagnosis/monitoring of liver impairment. |
| Reference range | <1 Month ≤80 U/L >1 Month ≤40 U/L |
| Sample & container required | SST (gold top) |
| Sample volume | 0.5 mL |
| Turnaround time | 1 day |