ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE, serum (087-0060)

Alanine aminotransferase is present in high activity in liver, skeletal muscle, heart, and kidney. Serum ALT increases rapidly in liver cell necrosis, hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, liver tumors, obstructive jaundice, Reye’s syndrome, extensive trauma to skeletal muscle, myositis, myocarditis, and myocardial infarction.

ALT

Enzymatic, Multi-point Rate

Clinical Chemistry

Routine: 4 hours; STAT: 1 hour

Collect:  Routine venipuncture.  SST (gel barrier) or red-topped vacutainer tube

Specimen Preparation:

Storage/Transport: Centrifuge the specimen to separate serum from red cells within 2 hours of collection. Refrigerate at 2-8°C.

Stability:

Causes for Rejection: Hemolysis, serum not separated from cells within allotted time, improperly labeled specimen, and QNS specimen

If applicable, state clinical information that is required to be provided with specimen.

By report (Reports may vary based on instrumentation, patient age and gender)

84460

When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient.  Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually.  The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-9 code or its verbal equivalent.