Health Information
Liver Function Panel
Topic Overview
A liver (hepatic) function panel is a blood test to check how well the Reference liver Opens New Window is working. This test measures the blood levels of total Reference protein Opens New Window, Reference albumin Opens New Window, Reference bilirubin Opens New Window, and liver Reference enzymes Opens New Window. High or low levels may mean that liver damage or disease is present.
The liver serves several important functions in the body, including changing nutrients into energy for the body and breaking down toxic substances.
Your doctor may order a liver function panel if you have symptoms of liver disease. These symptoms include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, yellowing of your eyes or skin (Reference jaundice Opens New Window), dark yellow urine, and feeling very tired. This blood test also may be done if you have recently been exposed to a Reference hepatitis Opens New Window virus or are taking a medicine that may cause liver damage.
For more information, see the topics:
- Reference Total Protein.
- Reference Albumin.
- Reference Bilirubin (total and direct).
- Reference Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP).
- Reference Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST).
- Reference Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT).
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference October 29, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Reference W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology |
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