Understanding your test results

Getting your liver test results

Ideally, you would be able to get your test results in person. Then have chance to talk to a doctor or nurse about what they mean and what will happen next. But we know that many people get results online, in a letter, or from an app.

If you are not sure about what any of your results mean, and you do not have an appointment with a specialist, the first step is to talk to your GP. They should be able to explain the test results and what will happen next. If needed, they can refer you to a specialist.

Find out more about choosing where to have specialist care.

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Getting information about liver tests online

We do not recommend trying to find information online about specific test results.

What is considered normal is different for different people. Comparing your results with other people’s, for example in online groups, will not be reliable.

The normal or reference range for tests will be different depending on where you had your test or which lab tested your samples. Any reference ranges you find online are very unlikely to be right for you.

We have found problems with the way that AI tools explain liver test results. At the moment you cannot rely on AI when making important health decisions.

Find out more about understanding reference ranges.

Find out more about getting health information online.

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If all your liver test results are normal

If all of your tests are normal, then this is good news. Your liver is probably doing well.

What happens next?

If you were having tests at a hospital, you will probably be sent back to your GP.

If you have symptoms of liver disease, it is very important to find out what is going on. It could be that you have a different condition. Or you might need to wait a while and then have some tests again.

A liver blood test on its own cannot say for sure if you have a liver condition or not. If this is the only test you had you may need other tests. You might also hear a liver blood test called an “LFT” test.

Find out more about liver blood tests and what their results could mean.

Even if your results were all normal it is a good idea to find out if you have any risk factors for liver disease. Most cases of liver disease can be prevented. Finding out about your risks and taking action now will help to keep your liver healthy.

Find out about your risk factors with our free online screener.

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If some of your liver test results were not normal

It is quite common to have a combination of test results where some are normal and some are not.

It is also common to have some results that are not quite normal even if you are completely healthy. The results of some tests naturally go up and down over time. So you might be asked to come back and have some of the tests again before a liver condition can be diagnosed or ruled out.

Doctors often have to test for lots of different conditions to find out which you might have. Your doctor can talk you through your results and how they fit together.

What happens next

What happens next will depend on what type of liver disease you might have and what stage it is at.

Find out more about:

• Tests for liver conditions
• Liver conditions
• The stages of liver disease.
• ELF and Fib4 tests for the stage of fibrosis.
• Child-Pugh, UKELD and MELD scores for the stages of cirrhosis

Some liver conditions can be looked after by your GP, especially if they are at an early stage. For others you will be under the care of a specialist team.

If you are not sure who should be looking after you, talk to your GP.

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If any of your liver test results were “borderline”

You might be told a result was only just inside the normal range. Or that it was slightly outside it. This is usually nothing to worry about. For blood tests about 1 in 20 healthy people will get a result that is not in the normal range. It is the combination of all your results put together that is important.

But it is worth asking your specialist or GP to explain your result, what should happen next, and why they think the result is not a problem.

Find out more about understanding reference ranges

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Special thanks

We would like to thank the patients and doctors who helped up to create this information. Including Professor Stephen Ryder, consultant hepatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust.

Published: August 2025

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