Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase), Serum Glutamate-pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT), SGPT (Serum Glutamate-pyruvate Transaminase)

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Taking medicines. Talk with your doctor about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you are taking. You may be instructed to stop taking your medicines for several days before the test.
• Taking some herbs and natural products, such as echinacea and valerian.
• Strenuous exercise, injury to a muscle, or injections into a muscle.
• Recent cardiac catheterization or surgery.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS Ralph Poore	Last Updated: February 27, 2008
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
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