About the test
Gamma glutamyl transferase is an enzyme found mainly in the liver and in the bile ducts and constitutes a sensitive diagnostic index when it comes to liver and biliary disease. It is also found in other organs such as the heart, kidneys, pancreas, brain and the spleen.
Sample
Venous blood
Preparation
None required. Water is allowed
Procedure
Venipuncture
Increased values
- Cholestasis
- Alcoholism
- Hepatitis (acute & chronic)
- Drugs (paracetamol, phenobarbital, phenytoin, antifungals)
- Fatty liver
- Obstructive jaundice
- Pancreatitis
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Decreased values
- Hypothyroidism
- Drugs (contraceptives, clifibrate)
Additional information
γ-GT screening is widely used for the laboratory differential diagnosis of elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values.
If ALP is elevated due to hepatobiliary disease, γ-GT is also elevated, whereas if ALP is elevated due to bone disease, γ-GT is normal.