Home testing for liver disease
We do not recommend any home liver tests apart from the free NHS hepatitis C test.
Home tests on their own cannot tell you if you have a liver condition or not. If you have any concerns about your liver speak to your GP. You can also find out about your risk factors using our free and confidential online screener.
Having a liver blood test
A liver blood test is actually several different tests. But you will usually only have one blood sample taken.
Sometimes you might be asked to have a “fasting blood test”. In this case you will be asked not to eat anything overnight and before your test. You will only be able to drink water. Not all liver blood tests have to be done after fasting.
Some medicines can affect your results. So tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking. This includes over the counter medicines, herbal and natural remedies, and supplements.
You can ask the person taking your blood sample how long it will take to get your results. This should usually be within 2 weeks.
What will be tested?
Different labs have different versions of the liver blood test. In most cases the test will look at the levels of:
- bilirubin
- proteins, such as albumin, made in your liver
- some of the enzymes made in your liver
Enzymes are a type of protein. They help your liver with many of its jobs.
More details
AST (enzyme)
Stands for: aspartate aminotransferase
Also called : serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, SGOT
AST is an enzyme that is made in your liver. It is also made in your heart, muscles and some of the other tissues in your body. AST leaks out into your blood stream when one of these body parts is injured. This causes an increase in the AST level in your blood.
ALT (enzyme)
Stands for: alanine aminotransferase
ALT is an enzyme that is mostly found in your liver. If your liver is damaged the ALT level in your blood can go up.
ALP (enzyme)
Stands for: alkaline phosphatase
ALP is an enzyme that is mostly found in your liver and bones. A high level of ALP in your blood can mean that there is a problem with your liver or bile ducts. Your ALP level can sometimes be higher in other conditions that do not involve your liver.
GGT (enzyme)
Stands for: gamma-glutamyl transferase
GGT is an enzyme found mostly in your liver. If your liver or bile ducts are damaged, then GGT can leak out and the GGT level in your blood will go up.
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is made when old or damaged red blood cells are broken down. Usually your liver removes bilirubin from your blood. But if your liver is damaged there can be a higher level of bilirubin in your blood.
Having too much bilirubin in your blood can also cause jaundice. This is a yellow colour to your eyes or skin.
Albumin (protein)
Albumin is a very important protein. It has several jobs, including making sure that fluid cannot leak out of your blood vessels. It is made in your liver. If your liver is damaged it can struggle to make enough albumin so the level of albumin in your blood will go down.
Total protein
A total protein test looks at all of the protein in the part of your blood called the plasma. The most common proteins are albumin and antibodies (also called immunoglobulins). If your liver is damaged it might make less albumin so there will be less total protein in your blood.
You will probably not be tested for all these things. You might be tested for some extra things as well.
Questions to ask your doctor:
- Why have I been asked to have a liver blood test?
- Can I eat before I have my test?
- How and when will I get my results?
- Who can I talk to if I have questions about my results?
Understanding your results
Your results will be compared to a reference range. Sometimes called a “normal range”.
The same test can have lots of different reference ranges. It is important to only compare your results with the range set by the lab that did your test. There can also be different ranges for men and women, or by age.
You can find out more about reference ranges here.
The results of each individual test only give part of the picture. Your doctor will look at all the results together to decide if there could be a problem that needs more tests.
Some results can be caused by problems that are not in your liver. Results can also be affected by things like:
- Age
- Ethnicity
- If you are male or female
- If you are overweight
- Diet
- Some medicines
- Other medical conditions
Your doctor will look at all these things along with your test result. You will usually just be told if your overall result is “normal” or not.
What does it mean if my results are “normal”?
A normal liver blood test is a good sign that your liver is probably doing okay.
But it is worth remembering that your liver can take a lot of damage before it starts to have any problems. Taking action now could help keep your liver healthy in future.
Ways to keep your liver healthy:
- Avoid alcohol or drink less than 14 units a week, and have 3 days in a row each week where you do not drink.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet.
- Stay active.
- Stop smoking.
- If you could be at risk of viral hepatitis, get a test.
It is possible to get a normal liver blood test when you have a serious liver condition. If you are at high risk of liver disease, or you have any symptoms, you should be referred or have more tests.
You can find out if you might be at risk of liver disease by taking our free online screener. The results are completely confidential and will not be shared with anyone. Online screener.
You can find out more about the symptoms of liver disease here.
Questions to ask your doctor:
- How certain are you that I do not have a problem with my liver?
- If my liver is not causing my problems, what should be done next to deal with my symptoms?
- What can I do to help keep my liver healthy?
- Are there any local support services that could help me?
What does it mean if my results are not “normal”?
It is quite common to get a result that is not normal. This does not always mean that you have a liver condition. But it could mean that you should have more tests to find out what is going on.
Your results can help to narrow down what might be wrong with your liver so that doctors know which tests to do next.
In almost 1 in 3 cases, results go back to normal by themselves in about 3 weeks. So you might be asked to come back for another test to see if this happens.
Questions to ask your doctor:
- Should I have the blood test repeated to see if things go back to normal?
- Which of my results are not normal?
- What are all the possible things that could be causing that result?
What if my results are just outside the reference range?
You might be told that some of your results are just outside the reference range. Or close to the edge of it. This is often nothing to worry about.
1 in 20 test results from healthy people are outside the reference range. The full range of possible results is also often many times bigger than the reference range.
It could be that there is something else affecting your result. Or that your results go up and down a bit over time.
Questions to ask your doctor:
- Why do you think my results are not in the reference range?
- Should I have another liver blood test to see if this changes?
- Do I need any other tests?
What should happen next
If your results suggest that you could have a problem with your liver, your GP might use them to calculate your FIB-4 index. Your Fib-4 index gives an indication of the amount of scarring (fibrosis) in your liver.
Depending on your results, age, and if you know what might be causing your liver condition, your GP might ask you:
- to have more tests
- to have regular tests to check on your liver
Or you may be referred to a gastroenterology department. This is a hospital department that deals with problems with the digestive system. Or to a hepatology department, this is a specialism that only deals with the liver.
You may be able to choose where you are referred to. You can find out more about this here.
Once you have been referred, the next step will depend on the type of liver condition you might have.
You will probably be asked to have more blood tests, sometimes called a full liver screen or non-invasive liver screen.
You might be asked to have an imaging test such as an ultrasound or Fibroscan.
You can find out more about other tests for liver disease here.
Questions to ask your doctor:
- Should I be referred to a specialist and why or why not?
- Who can I be referred to? Do I have any choices?
- What are the waiting times like?
- Do you have any recommendations about where I should go, based on what other patients have told you?
- Who should I contact if I start to feel worse?
- Are there any “red flag” symptoms I should look out for? What should I do if I get them?
- Are there any things I should do to help my liver while I am waiting?
Support for you
The British Liver Trust offers a range of support for people with a liver condition and those closest to them. This includes support groups and an online forum. Support for you
You can also call or email our helpline. Our friendly team of specialist liver nurses cannot give you a diagnosis or interpret test results. But they can answer questions, offer support, or just listen.
Call the helpline on 0800 652 7330 or find out more here.
We also have lots of information about living with a liver condition:
- Liver conditions A to Z
- Useful words glossary
- Living with a liver condition
- Eating, drinking and keeping active
- Mental health
Special thanks
We would like to thank everyone with lived experience of liver disease tests who helped with these pages. Including, Sejal Patel, and Jennifer Voller.
Also, Professor Stephen Ryder, consultant hepatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust and Dr Laura-Jane Armstrong, Associate GP, Avonside Health Centre, for reviewing this page.
Published: July 2025
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