SGOT – AST

The liver makes bile, a fluid that helps in digestion. Proteins called enzymes help the
liver build and break down proteins. AST (or SGOT, which stands for serum glutamic-
oxaloacetic transaminase) is one of these enzymes.

AST is found in many tissues throughout the body, including the liver, heart, muscles,
kidney, and brain. If any of these organs or tissues is affected by disease or injury, AST is
released into the bloodstream. This means that AST isn't as specific an indicator of liver
damage as ALT (also known as alanine aminotransferase, another type of enzyme found
almost entirely in the liver).

Why It's Done

If patient is experiencing symptoms of liver disease — including jaundice (yellowish skin or

eyes), dark urine, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal swelling — the AST test may be ordered. It
may also be ordered to help diagnose infections of the liver such as viral hepatitis, or to
monitor patients taking medications that can cause liver-related side effects.

The AST test is often performed as part of a full hepatic function panel that includes other liver
enzyme tests. Looking at AST levels along with those of other liver enzymes — such as ALT
and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) — can give doctors more specific information about liver
problems.

Preparation

No special preparations are needed for this test. You should tell your doctor about any
medications you are taking because certain drugs might alter the test results.
Results and Values

What do the test results mean?

Normally, the levels of AST in the blood range from 10 to 34 international units per liter
(IU/L).

Greater than normal levels of AST may indicate:

• acute hemolytic anemia, which is the breakdown of red blood cells by the body's own
defense system.

• acute pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.

• acute renal failure, or loss of kidney function.

• cirrhosis of the liver, which is scarring and loss of liver function.

• death of liver tissue, called liver necrosis.

• hepatitis, or liver inflammation.

• infectious mononucleosis. This disease is an infection caused by Epstein-Barr virus.

• cancer of the liver.

• multiple trauma, or injuries to several organ systems.

• heart attack.

• primary muscle disease, which are various disorders affecting the muscles.

• progressive muscular dystrophy, which is an inherited, progressive muscle weakness.

• recent cardiac catheterization, a test to see the heart's arteries, or angioplasty, a

procedure to relieve narrowing in heart's arteries.

• recent convulsions or seizure disorder.

• recent surgery.

• severe burns.

• muscle injury.
 ESTIMATION OF SERUM AST

TEST PRINCIPLE:

UV test according to a standardized method:

AST
2-Oxoglutrate + L-aspartarte --------------- L-glutamate + oxalacetate

AST is the enzyme which catalyzes this equilibrium reaction. The oxalacetate increase as
measured in a subsequent indicator reaction which is catalyzed by malate dehydrogenase.

MDH
Oxalacetate + NADH + H --------------- L-malate + NAD+
+

In the second reaction, NADH is oxidized to NAD. The rate of decrease in NADH
(measured photometrically) is directly proportional to the rate of formation of oxalacetate
and thus the AST activity.

REAGENTS:
R1:
Tris buffer
L-aspartate
LDH
MDH

R2:
NADH2
2-oxoglutarate

Mix 2 volumes of R1 with 1volume of R2

SPECIMEN
 Collect serum using standard sampling tubes.

TESTING PROCEDURES:
Materials provided:
 Working solution as described above
 Additional materials required calibrators and controls as indicated below
 0.9% NaCl

ASSAY CONDITIONS:
 Wavelength: 334nm, 340nm or 365nm
 Temperature: +250C/ +300C/ +370C
 Cuvette: 1cm light path
  Zero adjustment: against air
Manual procedure:
 Working solution 1000 µl
 Serum/ plasma 100µl

Mix and incubate for 1 minute at assay temperature and start stop watch simultaneously.
Read again after exactly 1, 2 and 3 minutes.

Factor:
365nm--------------------------------------------------------------3235 × ∆A/min
340nm--------------------------------------------------------------1746 × ∆A/min
334nm--------------------------------------------------------------1780 × ∆A/min

CALCULATIONS:

A1------------------------ 0 min =

A2-------------------------1 min =

A3-------------------------3 min =

A4-------------------------4 min =

∆A/min = (A2-A1) + (A4-A3)

----------------------- x factor =
2