Home Biomarkers SGOT (AST)

SGOT (AST)

LFT Biomarker

Sample Needed

Collection Type: Blood, Urine

Body System

Related System: LFT

Overview

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, also called SGOT) is an enzyme present in liver cells and many other tissues (heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, brain, red blood cells). The blood AST test measures enzyme activity released into circulation when cells are damaged. Elevated AST suggests cellular injury rather than a specific disease and is commonly used to detect and monitor liver injury (hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis), but can also rise with heart attack, muscle trauma, or hemolysis. Indications for testing include jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, nausea, or muscle/chest pain. Levels vary with age, sex, muscle mass, recent exercise, and pregnancy; newborns and older adults may have different reference limits.

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Test Preparation

Collect the urine sample in a sealed and sterile screw-capped container provided by our sample collection professional
Ensure that the urethral area (from where the urine is passed) is clean & the container doesn't come in contact with your skin
Women are advised not to give the sample during the menstrual period unless prescribed
You should submit all the required samples for this package at once during the scheduled sample collection

Why Do I Need This Test

Included in: Liver function test (LFT) panel.
Symptoms: jaundice, abdominal pain, weakness, dark urine, nausea, unexplained muscle or chest pain.
Diagnoses/monitoring: hepatocellular injury, viral/toxic/ischemic hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, monitoring hepatotoxic drugs.
Causes of abnormal levels: liver cell damage, muscle injury, myocardial infarction, hemolysis, drugs/toxins.
Biological meaning: raised AST reflects cell membrane disruption and enzyme release.
Lifestyle causes: heavy alcohol use, strenuous exercise, certain medications (e.g., statins, acetaminophen), herbal supplements.
Family history: viral hepatitis, hereditary metabolic liver disease, or familial alcohol-related liver disease may prompt testing.

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Symptom Checker

Understanding Test Results

Mild elevation (up to ~2–3× ULN; ~41–120 U/L): common with fatty liver, chronic hepatitis, recent alcohol use, muscle strain, or medication effects.
Often reversible and may prompt lifestyle changes or medication review.
Moderate elevation (~3–10× ULN; ~120–400 U/L): suggests more significant hepatocellular injury such as acute viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, or larger muscle injury; further evaluation and additional tests (ALT, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, CK, viral serologies) are needed.
Marked elevation (>10× ULN; >400 U/L): seen in severe acute liver injury (acetaminophen toxicity, ischemic hepatitis), massive muscle breakdown, or acute viral hepatitis; requires urgent evaluation.
Very high levels (often into the thousands): strongly suggest ischemic/toxic hepatic necrosis or severe rhabdomyolysis and may need immediate intervention.
Low AST: values below the reference range are rarely clinically significant.
Interpretation must account for AST:ALT ratio (ratio >2 often seen with alcoholic liver disease; ratio <1 more typical of acute viral or nonalcoholic fatty liver) and correlation with clinical context and other tests (ALT, CK, troponin).

Normal Range

10-40 U/L

FAQs

Q: What do high AST SGOT levels mean?

A: Elevated AST (SGOT) indicates injury to cells that contain this enzyme—commonly liver damage (hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, drugs/toxins) but also heart attack, muscle injury, pancreatitis or hemolysis. AST is less liver-specific than ALT, so patterns and additional tests (ALT, ALP, bilirubin, imaging, ECG) guide diagnosis. Mild elevations may be transient; persistent or high levels require medical evaluation.

Q: What happens if the SGOT level is high?

A: High SGOT (AST) usually indicates liver or muscle cell injury. Causes include viral or alcoholic hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver, certain medications, heart attack, or muscle trauma. Interpretation requires repeating the test and checking ALT, GGT, bilirubin and clinical history. Management targets the underlying cause avoid alcohol and hepatotoxic drugs and consult a physician for further evaluation and treatment.

Q: Should I worry if my AST is high?

A: An isolated mildly raised AST often isn’t urgent, but it can reflect liver, muscle or heart injury, medications, alcohol or recent exercise. Significance depends on how high it is, accompanying symptoms and other tests (ALT, ALP, bilirubin). Repeat testing, review medicines and alcohol, and see your doctor for persistent or large rises or symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, dark urine or severe fatigue.

Q: Can high AST mean fatty liver?

A: Yes—mild to moderate AST elevation can occur with fatty liver (NAFLD), but AST alone isn't diagnostic. In NAFLD ALT is often higher than AST; an AST/ALT ratio >1 suggests advanced fibrosis or alcohol-related disease. Other causes (muscle injury, medications, viral hepatitis) can raise AST. Evaluation includes history, metabolic risk assessment, liver ultrasound or elastography, and blood tests see a clinician for follow‑up.

Q: What level of SGOT is liver failure?

A: SGOT (AST) does not by itself define liver failure. Extremely high levels (often >1,000 U/L) suggest severe acute hepatocellular injury (ischemic, viral, toxin), but liver failure is a clinical diagnosis based on jaundice, coagulopathy (INR rise), encephalopathy and rising bilirubin. Mild-to-moderate AST elevations (tens to a few hundred U/L) occur in many liver conditions; interpret in clinical context.

Q: How to cure high sgot ast?

A: High AST (SGOT) isn't cured you treat the underlying cause. See a clinician for evaluation, stop alcohol and hepatotoxic drugs, control weight, diabetes and lipids, vaccinate/treat viral hepatitis if present, eat a balanced diet, exercise, and avoid unnecessary supplements. Repeat blood tests as directed. Follow your doctor’s plan; many elevations improve with targeted treatment and lifestyle changes.