Quick answer
The SGPT (ALT) Test costs ₹150 at Live Line Health Care. Measures alanine aminotransferase, the enzyme most closely tied to liver 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: SGPT, ALT, S. SGPT, Alanine Aminotransferase, Alanine Transaminase, Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase
What is the SGPT (ALT) Test?
The SGPT test, also called ALT (alanine aminotransferase), measures an enzyme that sits mainly inside liver cells. When those cells are inflamed or injured, ALT seeps into the blood. That makes SGPT the most widely used single marker of liver cell damage, and often the first abnormal value someone with a silent liver problem ever sees.
Fatty liver is now one of the most common reasons for a mildly raised SGPT in India. It is closely linked with diabetes, a large waist and weight gain, and it can occur in people who never drink alcohol. Viral hepatitis, alcohol, anti-TB treatment, some painkillers and certain herbal or ayurvedic products can also raise it, as can dengue and malaria. SGPT tells you that liver cells are under stress, but not why, and not how much scarring exists. For that, doctors combine it with an LFT, hepatitis tests and an ultrasound. Book this single test when you only need to follow a known SGPT value.
What it measures: The activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), an enzyme released mainly from injured liver cells.
Parameters included (1)
- SGPT (ALT)
Why is this test done?
- Checking for fatty liver in people with diabetes, obesity or high triglycerides
- Following recovery from viral hepatitis or jaundice
- Monitoring anti-TB treatment, methotrexate, statins or other medicines as your doctor advises
- Tracking the liver’s response to weight loss or cutting down alcohol
- Rechecking a raised value found on a health checkup
When should you get tested?
- Diabetes, a large waist or recent weight gain
- Tiredness, nausea or loss of appetite without a clear reason
- Discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen
- Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine or pale stools
- Regular use of herbal, ayurvedic or body-building products
How to prepare for the SGPT (ALT) Test
- 1No fasting is needed for SGPT on its own.
- 2Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before the test.
- 3Write down all medicines, herbal and ayurvedic products and gym supplements, because several of them can raise SGPT.
- 4Skip very heavy workouts the day before, since hard muscle work can cause a small rise.
- 5Keep taking prescribed medicines, including anti-TB tablets, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
SGPT (ALT) Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| SGPT (ALT) | 7–56 U/L |
| Tighter healthy limit used by some liver specialists | Men: about 33 U/L · Women: about 25 U/L |
A value inside the printed range does not fully exclude fatty liver, so share it with your doctor if you have risk factors. 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
- A mild rise, up to about two to three times the upper limit, often reflects fatty liver, alcohol, a medicine or a recent viral illness.
- Very high values, above about ten times the upper limit, suggest acute viral hepatitis, injury from a medicine such as a paracetamol overdose, or a sudden loss of blood flow to the liver. These need urgent medical care.
- When SGPT is the higher of the two transaminases, fatty liver and viral hepatitis are the usual suspects. The reverse pattern raises the question of alcohol or more advanced scarring.
- A normal SGPT does not prove a healthy liver. People with cirrhosis can have near normal enzymes because few working liver cells remain.
- The size of the rise does not show how much long-term damage exists. If SGPT stays high on repeat testing, your doctor will look for the cause with further tests.
Book the SGPT (ALT) Test in your city
Same price at all 45 centres. Choose your city for local centres and timings.
Telangana
SGPT (ALT) Test – FAQs
What is the price of the SGPT (ALT) Test?
The SGPT (ALT) Test costs ₹150 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
Why is my SGPT high?
The most common reasons are fatty liver, alcohol, viral hepatitis and medicines or herbal products. Recent fever, dengue, thyroid problems, coeliac disease and muscle injury can raise it too. A single mild rise may settle on its own. Your doctor will usually repeat the test and add further liver tests if it stays high.
How can I reduce high SGPT naturally?
Treat the cause. If fatty liver is responsible, losing 5–10 percent of body weight, regular exercise, better diabetes control and avoiding alcohol often bring it down over months. Be careful with liver-cleansing products, which can harm the liver themselves. Do not stop prescribed medicines without speaking to your doctor.
What SGPT level is dangerous?
There is no single cut-off. Levels above about ten times the upper limit, or any rise with jaundice, vomiting, confusion or easy bleeding, need urgent care. Milder rises are usually not an emergency but still need a doctor’s review, because long-term inflammation can slowly scar the liver without symptoms.
Does a high SGPT mean I have fatty liver?
Not necessarily. Fatty liver is a common cause, but the same rise appears with alcohol, hepatitis, medicines and other conditions. Many people with fatty liver also have a normal SGPT. An ultrasound, along with your weight, sugar and lipid results, helps your doctor reach the correct conclusion.
Is SGPT alone enough, or should I book an LFT?
Book an LFT for a first check or if you have symptoms, as it adds bilirubin, proteins and other enzymes. SGPT alone suits repeat monitoring when your doctor only needs to see whether one known value is falling, for example after lifestyle changes or during a course of medicine.
Can statins or paracetamol increase SGPT?
Both can. Statins sometimes cause a small rise that is usually harmless and rarely requires changing treatment. Normal paracetamol doses are safe for most people, but overdoses can seriously damage the liver. Report any rise to the doctor who prescribed your medicine, and let them decide whether anything needs to change.
Where can I get the SGPT (ALT) 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.