Quick answer
The SGOT (AST) Test costs ₹150 at Live Line Health Care. Measures aspartate aminotransferase, an enzyme found in liver, muscle and heart cells. No fasting is needed. It uses a blood sample and the report is usually ready the same day. Book home sample collection or visit any of our 45 centres.
Also known as: SGOT, AST, S. SGOT, Aspartate Aminotransferase, Aspartate Transaminase, Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase
What is the SGOT (AST) Test?
The SGOT test, now more often called AST (aspartate aminotransferase), measures an enzyme that helps cells process amino acids. It is found in the liver but also in heart muscle, skeletal muscle, kidneys and red blood cells. When any of these tissues is injured, AST leaks into the blood and the level rises on your report.
That wide spread is what makes SGOT different from its partner SGPT. A raised SGPT usually points to the liver, while a raised SGOT alone could just as easily come from a hard gym session, a muscle injury or breakdown of red cells. Doctors therefore read the two side by side, and the ratio between them can hint at the cause, including alcohol-related liver disease, where SGOT often runs higher than SGPT. If you need the complete view, including bilirubin, proteins and other enzymes, the LFT panel is the better choice. This single test is mainly useful for following a known result over time.
What it measures: The activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), an enzyme released from injured liver, muscle, heart and red blood cells.
Parameters included (1)
- SGOT (AST)
Why is this test done?
- Reading together with SGPT to judge the likely source of an enzyme rise
- Following alcohol-related liver disease, where SGOT often runs higher
- Rechecking a previously raised value during recovery from hepatitis
- Looking into muscle pain or injury along with a creatine kinase test
- Monitoring medicines that can affect the liver, as your doctor advises
When should you get tested?
- Regular alcohol intake, especially with tiredness or poor appetite
- Yellow eyes, or pain in the upper right abdomen
- Unexplained muscle pain or weakness, or dark urine after hard exercise
- Recovery from viral hepatitis, dengue or malaria, when your doctor wants a recheck
- An earlier report showing raised SGOT that needs follow-up
How to prepare for the SGOT (AST) Test
- 1No fasting is needed.
- 2Avoid hard exercise and heavy lifting for 48 hours, as working muscle releases AST and can raise the result even when the liver is healthy.
- 3Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours.
- 4Mention recent injections into muscle, falls or surgery.
- 5Tell staff about paracetamol, statins, anti-TB medicines and herbal products, and keep taking prescribed medicines unless your doctor says otherwise.
SGOT (AST) Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| SGOT (AST) | 5–40 U/L |
| SGOT to SGPT ratio | Often about 1 or lower in healthy adults |
Some labs print a lower upper limit for women, close to 32 U/L. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- SGOT higher than SGPT, especially by two times or more, is often seen in alcohol-related liver disease. It can also appear in advanced liver scarring, or when the source is muscle rather than liver.
- An isolated rise in SGOT with a normal SGPT suggests looking beyond the liver, at muscle injury, hard exercise, a damaged sample or a thyroid problem. Your doctor may add a creatine kinase test.
- Values above roughly ten times the upper limit suggest sudden injury such as viral hepatitis, medicine toxicity or a sharp drop in liver blood flow, and need prompt medical care.
- A low SGOT is not usually a concern. The useful information lies in raised values, and these should be reviewed by your doctor with your other results.
Book the SGOT (AST) Test in your city
Same price at all 45 centres. Choose your city for local centres and timings.
Telangana
SGOT (AST) Test – FAQs
What is the price of the SGOT (AST) Test?
The SGOT (AST) Test costs ₹150 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
What is the difference between SGOT and SGPT?
Both are enzymes that leak from damaged cells. SGPT is concentrated in the liver, so it is the better pointer to liver injury. SGOT is also found in muscle, heart and red cells, so it is less specific. Doctors compare the two, and the pattern gives more information than either alone.
Why is my SGOT high but SGPT normal?
When SGOT rises alone, the liver may not be the source. Hard exercise, muscle injury, injections into muscle and breakdown of red cells in the sample are common reasons. Doctors may repeat the test after rest and add a creatine kinase test to see whether muscle is responsible.
Can exercise raise SGOT?
Yes. Weight training and long runs cause small tears in muscle, and SGOT can stay raised for several days afterwards. This is a normal response and not a sign of liver disease. Rest for at least two days before a repeat test, and tell your doctor about your training routine.
Is a high SGOT a sign of a heart attack?
SGOT does rise after heart muscle damage, but doctors stopped using it for that purpose long ago because troponin is far more accurate. Never rely on this test to assess your heart. If you have chest pain or breathlessness now, go to hospital emergency care immediately.
What does an SGOT level of 100 mean?
A value near 100 U/L is about two to three times the usual upper limit, a mild to moderate rise. Causes include fatty liver, alcohol, viral illness, medicines and muscle injury. It needs a doctor’s review and usually an SGPT and full LFT, but on its own it does not name a disease.
Where can I get the SGOT (AST) Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore, or book home sample collection.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.