Lab results online in Canada, explained
Liver function test results explained (Canada)
Liver function tests are a group of blood tests that show whether the liver may be inflamed or not working normally. Some measure substances the liver makes, and some measure enzymes that leak into the blood when liver cells are damaged.
Also printed as: Liver panel, Liver enzymes, ALT, AST, ALP.
What is on the report
Typical adult ranges. Each lab sets its own, so the range printed next to your result is the one that counts.
| Test | What it is | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| ALT | An enzyme that lives mostly inside liver cells. | 7–45 U/L (women) 7–55 U/L (men) |
| AST | An enzyme found in the liver, muscles and heart. | 8–43 U/L (women) 8–48 U/L (men) |
| ALP | An enzyme from the liver and bile ducts, and from bone. | 35–104 U/L (women) 40–129 U/L (men) |
| GGT | A liver enzyme that rises with alcohol and bile duct problems. | 5–36 U/L (women) 8–61 U/L (men) |
| Total bilirubin | A yellow pigment made when old red blood cells break down. | 2–21 µmol/L |
| Albumin | The main protein in blood, made by the liver. | 35–50 g/L |
| Total protein | All the protein in the liquid part of blood. | 63–79 g/L |
Good to know in Canada
- Alberta lists these tests separately, with names like Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) and Bilirubin, Total & Conjugated.
- Bilirubin, albumin and total protein show how well the liver is doing its work. ALT and AST are enzymes that rise when the liver may be damaged.
- A higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) can be a sign that the bile ducts are blocked.
Call 911 in an emergency. For health advice that is not an emergency, call 811 in most provinces and territories. For questions about your results, contact your family doctor, nurse practitioner or the clinic that ordered the test.
Keep your reports in one place
Take a photo or screenshot of your lab report, or upload the PDF, and Vita explains each number in plain words, suggests what to ask your doctor, and keeps it with your past results. Vita does not connect to any Canadian health record system. Hospital connections are for US hospitals, not Canadian ones.
Vita Health Coach on the App StoreAsk it in ChatGPT
Vita Health Coach also answers in ChatGPT. One tap opens ChatGPT with this question ready to send:
“What should I ask the doctor about my Liver function tests result?”
Questions
Do I need to prepare for liver tests?
In general there is nothing you need to do, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Can liver tests tell if I have hepatitis C?
No. They show whether the liver may be damaged or inflamed, but a separate antibody test is used to check for hepatitis C.
What does an abnormal result mean?
One or more values outside the range can mean the liver is inflamed or not working normally. Your doctor looks at the pattern of results along with your history before deciding what it means.
More for Canada
Sources
General information, not medical advice. VitaMedas is not connected with any government health service. Vita Health Coach explains; it never diagnoses. In an emergency, call 911. Read the medical disclaimer.