Mediki
ALT blood test: what your result means
ALT is a liver enzyme that rises when liver cells are irritated or injured.
- Category
- Liver function
- Standard unit
- U/L
- Also called
- SGPT
- Reported in
- U/L, IU/L, µkat/L, nkat/L
What does high ALT mean?
Higher values may suggest liver cell stress or inflammation. What counts as high depends on the reference range printed on your lab report, because ranges differ between laboratories.
What does low ALT mean?
Lower values are usually not clinically significant by themselves. What counts as low depends on the reference range printed on your lab report, because ranges differ between laboratories.
ALT units and conversion
Mediki shows ALT in U/L. Labs may report it in other units; Mediki converts them automatically so results from different labs line up on one chart.
IU/L is numerically the same as U/L, so no conversion is needed.
| Unit on your report | Convert to U/L | Convert back |
|---|---|---|
| µkat/L | 1 µkat/L = 60 U/L | 1 U/L = 0.01667 µkat/L |
| nkat/L | 1 nkat/L = 0.06 U/L | 1 U/L = 16.67 nkat/L |
Convert a value from your report with the blood test unit converter.
Why track ALT over time?
A single ALT result is a snapshot. Comparing it with your earlier tests shows whether a value is stable, slowly drifting, or responding to a change in treatment or lifestyle, which is often more useful than one number on its own.
Read our guide on how to read blood test results to understand reference ranges, flags and units.
Following ALT as part of a panel? See the liver function test tracker.
Track your ALT results in one chart
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Medical disclaimer: This page is general information, not medical advice. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and only a doctor can interpret your results in the context of your health.