Liver Function Blood Health Test

The Liver Function test is a private blood test measuring the enzymes and proteins made by the liver — ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, total bilirubin, albumin, globulin and total protein — processed by London Medical Laboratory (LML), a UKAS-accredited ISO 15189 laboratory, and sold by Ways Pharmacy (UK).

Key facts

Who it is for

• People who want to check the effect of alcohol intake on their liver
• People taking long-term medication that can affect the liver, monitoring as advised
• People with a family history of liver disease, or risk factors such as being overweight
• People who want a liver baseline as part of a general health check

Not suitable for: people with jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), severe abdominal pain or who feel acutely unwell — seek urgent medical care; use as a substitute for diagnosis by a doctor.

What is measured

• Alanine transaminase (ALT) — an enzyme released when liver cells are stressed or damaged
• Aspartate transaminase (AST) — an enzyme found in the liver and other tissues
• Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) — an enzyme linked to the liver and bile ducts
• Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) — an enzyme sensitive to alcohol and bile-duct issues
• Total bilirubin — a waste product processed by the liver
• Albumin — the main protein made by the liver
• Globulin — a group of blood proteins
• Total protein — the combined measure of albumin and globulin

How it works

1. Order online and choose your option: an in-store appointment or an at-home self-collection kit.
2. In store: attend Ways Pharmacy, 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET, where a trained phlebotomist takes a venous blood sample. At home: a finger-prick self-collection kit is posted to you; collect your sample and return it in the prepaid packaging.
3. Your sample is sent to London Medical Laboratory (LML) for analysis.
4. You receive a written report with results and reference ranges, typically within 3–5 working days of the lab receiving your sample, with out-of-range values flagged.

Frequently asked questions

How long do results take?

Results are typically available within 3–5 working days from when the laboratory receives your sample. You receive a written report showing your liver markers against reference ranges.

Where is the blood test done?

You can have the sample taken at our Holborn pharmacy (77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET) by appointment, or order an at-home self-collection kit that is posted to you and returned to the lab in prepaid packaging.

Is the laboratory accredited?

Yes. Your sample is processed by London Medical Laboratory (LML), a UKAS-accredited laboratory working to the ISO 15189 standard for medical laboratories.

Do I need to fast or stop drinking before the test?

Fasting is not required for this panel. If you want a result that reflects your usual liver state, take the test as you normally would; the pharmacist can advise if you are checking the effect of a recent change in alcohol intake.

What happens if a result is abnormal?

Your results are reported with reference ranges and reviewed before release. If a marker is outside the normal range, the pharmacist will explain it and recommend the next step, which may be a repeat test or referral to your GP. This test is not a diagnosis.

When to seek further advice

• Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or severe abdominal pain needs urgent medical attention — contact your GP, NHS 111 or A&E.
• Discuss your results with a clinician; abnormal results should be followed up with your GP.

This is a private health-screening service. Results are reported with reference ranges and are not a diagnosis. Discuss your results with a clinician; abnormal results should be followed up with your GP.