Port Moresby Medical Laboratories (POMMEDLAB)

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You should have your liver tests performed every time you are very ill and given prescription medication as some medications, particularly antibiotics. Some medications are unsafe and require dose adjustment or change of medications to avoid worsen of pre-existing liver disease.

All patients with the following should have liver function test performed routinely:

· Abdominal pain

· Jaundice or Yellow skin and eyes

· Weight loss

· Nausea and vomiting

· Skin itchiness

· Abdominal swelling

· Leg swelling

· malnutrition

· Pregnancy and vomiting

· Diabetes mellitus

· Intravenous injections and antibiotics

· Easy skin Bruising

· Unwell for no apparent reason

· Dark Urine

· Long term alcohol Use

· Systemic infections: Malaria, HIV & typhoid

Liver Function Test

 

Liver Function Test or LFT is a test used to assess health of liver. Many are complex and not routinely done but POMMEDLAB provides simple  and cheap but powerful enough to detect presence of liver disease.

This involves measurement of a batch of biochemical tests each maximized to detect presence of liver disease including hepatitis ( liver infection) or obstruction ( gall stones or cancer). We measure proteins (total protein, albumin & globulin), transaminase enzymes (AST & ALT), gamma Glutamic acid transferase (GGT and alkaline phosphatases (ALP) , conjugated and unconjugated bilirubins, and bilirubins just in a single sample of blood. 

 Liver is one of the largest solid organs in the body. Its has various very important roles in the body. Maintaining normal level of function of liver is very important in health and disease. Liver is a storage organ for glucose and coagulation factors, and plays central role in making toxins harmless. It is involved in metabolizing medication to active or inactive products and metabolizing proteins (urea) and aiding digestion of food through bile production.

Question 1. What is Liver Function Test?

Question 2. When should I suspect if I have liver disease?

Question 3. Is there any pitfall to the tests?

Question 5. How long before the results available?

The tests give a fairly good indication of presence of liver damage or hepatitis. However, normal liver tests can occasionally still be seen in the presences of early liver cancer, fatty liver and cirrhosis.

The test are very simple and takes only few minutes. It can take 1-2hours depending on laboratory workload. You may return to our Result Review Center or see your doctor on the next appointment day for discussion of results. Patient or doctor will be contacted for urgent results. All reports are kept confidential and only accessed by patient or his/her doctor.  

Question 6. What does the test report mean?

 

The results are reported as normal or abnormal. If abnormal you will be advised and referred appropriately to your doctor or specialist. You can also chose to discuss report or result with our Pathologist /GP if you  prefer for a small extra fee.

 

Question 7. What is the Treatment?

Treatment depends on cause of your liver disease. Simple advice include maintain good fluid balance and health eating and regular LFT especially if you are taking medications that is metabolised or excreted by liver particularly antibiotics. 

Question 4. How is the test performed?

A small blood sample of about 5-10mls is taken. No special preparation is required. No further blood sample is required as this can be also used to test for other basic chemistry tests including kidney, pancreas, diabetes, gout, calcium , cholesterol and cancer blood tests.