There are very few risks to having an SGOT test. Make sure you’re well hydrated the night before to help prevent episodes of feeling light-headed or faint. If you feel light-headed or faint following the procedure, let the technicians know. They’ll let you stay sitting and may bring you water until you feel well enough to get up and go.
If the results of your SGOT test are high, that means one of the organs or muscles containing the enzyme could be damaged. These include your liver, but also the muscles, heart, brain, and kidneys. Your doctor may order follow-up tests to rule out another diagnosis.
The normal range of an SGOT test is generally between 8 and 45 units per liter of serum. In general, men may naturally have higher amounts of AST in the blood. A score above 50 for men and 45 for women is high and may indicate damage.
There may be some variation in the normal ranges depending on the technique the lab used. The exact range of the lab will be listed in the report of the results.
Extremely high levels of AST or ALT indicate conditions that cause severe liver damage. These conditions include:
- acute viral hepatitis A or hepatitis B
- shock, or collapse of the circulatory system
- extensive liver damage that’s likely caused by toxins, including an overdose of OTC medications like acetaminophen
If your SGOT test is inconclusive, your doctor may order additional follow-up tests. If they’re looking at your liver function or checking for liver damage in particular, they may also order the following:
- Coagulation panel: This measures your blood’s ability to clot and evaluates the function of clotting-factor proteins produced in the liver.
- Bilirubin test: Bilirubin is a molecule and by-product of the routine destruction of red blood cells, which occurs in the liver. It’s typically released as bile.
- Glucose tests: A liver that isn’t functioning correctly may lead to unusually low glucose levels.
- Platelet count: Low platelet levels may indicate liver disease.
All of these tests are blood tests and can be completed in a complete blood panel test (CBP). If other organs or muscles are thought to be the reason for your high AST levels, your doctor may order additional testing to diagnose the problem, such as an ultrasound of the liver.
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