Gamma Glutamyl Transferase and GGT (T509) [Back]
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| RISK ASSESSMENT VALUE: |
GGT is largely limited to the liver and biliary tract and as such provides a specific marker for liver conditions. Because of its association with the biliary tract, it will be elevated in almost all situations where hepatic Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) is elevated and is usually more sensitive than the AP. It will also be elevated by other liver conditions but isolated elevation of GGT in the presence of normal AP, ALT and AST is rarely of concern except that it is often the only liver enzyme elevated by heavy regular alcohol intake. The risk associated with isolated elevation is therefore dependent on the risk of that condition which varies dramatically in applicants. When associated with other liver enzyme elevations, it serves to confirm the liver as the source but otherwise does not independently contribute to the risk assessment by its presence or level of elevation.
It is rarely part of chemistry panels in clinical medicine because of lack of specificity for any particular disease.
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| NORMAL RESULTS: |
Serum GGT values vary with the assay method used (colorimetric or kinetic method). The normal spectrophotometric range for adults is 2-65 U/L.
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| ABNORMAL RESULTS: |
> 65 U/L
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| ADDITIONAL TESTS: |
Consider CDT
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| SAMPLE NEEDED: |
Serum from a red-stopper tube or hemolyzate from a dried blood spot.
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| SAMPLE STABILITY: |
10 days at room temperature, 2 weeks when refrigerated, indefinitely when frozen
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| METHOD & INSTRUMENT: |
The rate of 5-amino-2-nitrobenzate liberation is proportional to gamma-GT activity which is measured photometrically, Hitachi Modular.
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| INTERFERING FACTORS: |
Hemolysis decreases apparent serum GGT level
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| PURPOSE: |
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| PROFILE INCLUDES: |
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| RISK RANGE & UNITS: |
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