Alanine Transaminase (ALT/SGPT)

Also known as the serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) test, the alanine transaminase (ALT) test measures the amount of ALT in your blood. Doctors perform this test to determine if a disease, drug, or injury has damaged your liver. Alanine transaminase (ALT), also known as alanine aminotransferase, is an essential enzyme mainly found in the liver, though it exists in other parts of the body.

Since ALT levels in your blood tend to increase when your liver is damaged, healthcare providers often use this test to determine the health of your liver. Since many types of liver problems can cause high ALT levels in the blood, doctors use this test and other tests to identify the particular cause.