Testing your blood levels might indicate the adverse health conditions that you might be suffering from. There are various parameters for testing your blood, one of which is the Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase test.
The gamma-glutamyl Transferase test, as the name suggests, is a diagnostic t that measures the amount of GGT in your blood. For all the rookies who know very little about medical terminologies, GGT is the enzyme that's found mostly in your liver but is also measured all across the body.
In case your liver is faulty, this enzyme would leak into your bloodstream. If the test results in high levels of GGT within the blood, the doctors will confirm a liver disease and will run further tests to determine the intensity of the condition. Another problem that high GGT levels in your blood might indicate is damaged bile ducts.
Again, bile ducts are certain tubes that tend to carry the bile in & out of your liver. And bile is the fluid that's made within your liver, which supports digestion. Remember, the GGT test will hint about your liver problem but can't determine the cause of it. So, in most cases, the GGT test is often followed by some other diagnostic procedures.
To help get a better insight into what GGT tests are and the significance, objective, interpretation and technique associated with them, read this article until the end!
What is the Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Test?
The GGT blood test tends to measure the activity of this enzyme in your blood. As you already know, high levels of GGT indicate damaged bile ducts or liver, but there are other reasons that might spike these levels as well. Any administration of foreign substances, such as certain medications or alcohol, might trigger the rise of GGT levels.
For you to better understand this test, you must know that GGT is typically the primary liver enzyme and is among the most sensitive ones for detecting bile duct issues. As most of the different types of liver problems can trigger increased levels of this enzyme, doctors consider performing some other liver function tests alongside this blood test.
Why Do People Need to Take the GGT Test?
Healthcare professionals often recommend this test to determine the blood Gamma GT levels for diagnosing liver problems. But there are some other reasons which might lead you to take up this diagnostic procedure, which includes:
Increased ALP Levels:
You must get this test if your Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels are higher in your blood. The ALP test is conducted alongside the GGT test to determine better responses to liver health.
In case your ALP test results are highly elevated, your doctor will recommend you to take up the GGT test as well for narrowing down the cause. If there are elevated levels resulting in both tests, it implies that your liver is adversely affected. But, if only the ALP levels are higher, you can conclude that you are suffering from a bone disease.
Liver Problem:
As per doctors, if you have been experiencing symptoms of bile duct obstructions or liver disease, they might recommend you take the GGT test. But, it might not be enough to determine the liver disease possibility with just this test, doctors will recommend some other tests such as AST, ALP, ALT or bilirubin tests.
These tests will help you distinguish the differences between bile or liver duct disorders or bone disease. The signs or symptoms of liver diseases include abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, itchy skin, jaundice, fatigue, appetite loss and others. If you are experiencing any of this, you must seek a doctor's help, and probably the GGT test will be recommended alongside other diagnostic measures.
Alcohol Disorder:
Most people who have been diagnosed with alcohol disorder, an inability to be able to stop or resist the consumption of alcohol, are reported to have high GGT levels. Healthcare providers often recommend this test to determine this condition in patients and decide on the ideal alcohol abuse treatment for them.
How to Prepare Yourself for the GGT Blood Test?
You must know that there are many medications or supplements that might affect your GGT blood test results. Therefore, to ensure this doesn't happen, do connect with your healthcare provider about any dietary or drug supplements that you are currently consuming. Depending on what those medications and their effects are, doctors might recommend you avoid taking them at least a few hours or a day before the test.
In some cases, certain medications won't bother your test results at all. So, remember to leave the medication for a specific time being only if your doctor asks you for it. Beyond medications, you must also know that even a small amount of alcohol can spike your GGT levels, for which your doctor might recommend you not to consume alcohol for at least a day prior to the test.
Also Read: What Is Fatty Liver – How and Why Does One Get Diagnosed With Fatty Liver
What is the Technique for Executing the GGT Blood Test?
When your doctors have prescribed you to get a GGT blood test, the technique includes certain steps, which includes:
- You will be asked to sit on the chair while the healthcare professional will look for the accessible vein in your arms.
- Once a vein is located, they will clean and disinfect the area before punching in the needle to collect the blood sample.
- You might feel a little pinch during this process, and a small amount of blood will be collected within the test tube.
What do the GGT Test Results Mean?
The normal range of the GGT test varies from one lab to another. But for a perspective, the normal range of the GGT test levels for adults ranges from 5 to 40 units per litre. If your test results are normal or lower, it is unlikely that you are suffering from any liver disease. But anything higher will need a more detailed check-up of your condition.
Conclusion
Liver conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver ischemia or others are some of the causes that might result in high GGT levels. But, these are diagnosed after the test results are determined. In case you are experiencing any abnormal symptoms, such as stomach ache, itchy skin, jaundice, nausea or others, do connect with your doctors at the earliest.
And, if your doctors recommend you to get the GGT tests, be sure that they suspect some health issues. Connect with the experts at Agilus Diagnostics and book your appointment for a GGT test. We have the right tools to determine accurate results in the least time possible!
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
