Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

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

How To Prepare

Avoid strenuous exercise just before having an ALT test.

Tell your doctor if you:

• Are taking any medicines. Many medicines can interfere with test results. Your doctor may instruct you to stop taking certain medicines for several days before having an ALT test. Some herbs and natural products (such as echinacea and valerian) also can affect ALT results.
• Are allergic to any medicines.
• Are or might be pregnant.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results may mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

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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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