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22169 Alanine Amino Transferase

Alanine Amino Transferase
Test Code: ALT
Synonyms/Keywords
​SGPT, Alanine Amino Transaminase​
Useful For
Alanine aminotransferase measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of certain liver diseases (e.g. viral hepatitis and cirrhosis) and heart diseases.  In viral hepatitis and other forms of liver disease associated with hepatic necrosis, serum ALT levels are elevated even before clinical signs and symptoms of the disease.​
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​No Plasma​/Serum Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator (PST)​, Serum Separator Tube (SST) Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT), Red Top Tube (RTT) 1 mL​ 0.5 mL​ 0.6 mL whole blood​
Collection Processing Instructions
Samples collected in a RTT or GTT must be removed from the clot within one hour for storage or transport. Samples collected in gel barrier tubes must be removed from the primary tube prior to transporting to Marshfield. Do not send the primary collection tube.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum/Plasma​ ​ ​ Ambient​ 5 days​
Refrigerate​ 7 days​
Frozen​  3 months​
Rejection Criteria
Samples collected with EDTA, potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride
Interference
​Sulfasalazine may interfere with ALT assays and cause falsely depressed results.
For patients receiving treatment, venipuncture should occur prior to drug administration to prevent this interference.
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Chippewa Falls ​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Biochromatic Rate Technique/Siemens Dimension
​Weston
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Biochromatic Rate Technique/Siemens Dimension
Eau Claire​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ (IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Park Falls
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​(IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Ladysmith​ Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours​ (IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Lakeview Medical Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​(IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ (IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Minocqua ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ (IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Biochromatic Rate Technique/Siemens Dimension
Stevens Point​ ​Monday through Sunday​
 ​Less than 2 hours​ ​(IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Wisconsin Rapids ​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Biochromatic Rate Technique/Siemens Dimension
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
​All Performing Sites using Dimension Analyzers ​Male: 12-70 IU/L
Female: 7-55 IU/L​
All Performing Sites using Beckman AU Analyzers​
                  <1yr:  6 - 30 U/L
            1 - 12 yr:  9 - 23 U/L
            13-18 yr:  8 - 22 U/L
Male:     >=19 yr:  8 - 52 U/L      
Female: >=19 yr:  7 - 38 U/L
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​84460 ​ ​ ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
​SGPT, Alanine Amino Transaminase​
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity

​a. ALT(GPT) Alanine Aminotransferase

b. GPT (ALT, SGPT)

c. SGPT (ALT, GPT)

​Cerner ​ALT (COMMON)
​COM ​ALT (SGPT)
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​No Plasma​/Serum Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator (PST)​, Serum Separator Tube (SST) Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT), Red Top Tube (RTT) 1 mL​ 0.5 mL​ 0.6 mL whole blood​
Collection Processing
Samples collected in a RTT or GTT must be removed from the clot within one hour for storage or transport. Samples collected in gel barrier tubes must be removed from the primary tube prior to transporting to Marshfield. Do not send the primary collection tube.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum/Plasma​ ​ ​ Ambient​ 5 days​
Refrigerate​ 7 days​
Frozen​  3 months​
Rejection Criteria
Samples collected with EDTA, potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride
Interference
​Sulfasalazine may interfere with ALT assays and cause falsely depressed results.
For patients receiving treatment, venipuncture should occur prior to drug administration to prevent this interference.
Useful For
Alanine aminotransferase measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of certain liver diseases (e.g. viral hepatitis and cirrhosis) and heart diseases.  In viral hepatitis and other forms of liver disease associated with hepatic necrosis, serum ALT levels are elevated even before clinical signs and symptoms of the disease.​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
​All Performing Sites using Dimension Analyzers ​Male: 12-70 IU/L
Female: 7-55 IU/L​
All Performing Sites using Beckman AU Analyzers​
                  <1yr:  6 - 30 U/L
            1 - 12 yr:  9 - 23 U/L
            13-18 yr:  8 - 22 U/L
Male:     >=19 yr:  8 - 52 U/L      
Female: >=19 yr:  7 - 38 U/L
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
​Chippewa Falls ​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Biochromatic Rate Technique/Siemens Dimension
​Weston
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Biochromatic Rate Technique/Siemens Dimension
Eau Claire​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ (IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Park Falls
 ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​(IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Ladysmith​ Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours​ (IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Lakeview Medical Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ ​(IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ (IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Minocqua ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours​ (IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Biochromatic Rate Technique/Siemens Dimension
Stevens Point​ ​Monday through Sunday​
 ​Less than 2 hours​ ​(IFCC), UV/NADH, Rate Assay/Beckman AU
​Wisconsin Rapids ​Monday through Friday ​Less than 2 hours​ ​Biochromatic Rate Technique/Siemens Dimension
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
​84460 ​ ​ ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.