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Review and Recommendations for the Component Tests in the Liver Function Test Profile

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Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pathology laboratories group some tests that they perform on their high throughput biochemistry analysers into profiles of tests that are associated with different organs (e.g. liver function tests—LFT). The components of these profiles are historic and often vary between different laboratories. This can lead to confusion and begs the question of what should be in a particular profile. In community medicine profiles may be used as screening tests but some of the components of the profiles may have low sensitivity and specificity and may produce both false positives and negatives. The LFT may include components which are poor liver function tests but are sensitive to fatty liver and hence elevations may cause unnecessary concern. Harmonisation of clinical chemistry reference intervals and units is occurring now so it is time to consider a similar process for components of a profile. A proposed list of analytes to be performed in the LFT profile is given.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia

    Tony Badrick & Peter Turner

  2. Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia

    Tony Badrick

Authors
  1. Tony Badrick
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  2. Peter Turner
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Correspondence to Tony Badrick.

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Badrick, T., Turner, P. Review and Recommendations for the Component Tests in the Liver Function Test Profile. Ind J Clin Biochem 31, 21–29 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-015-0493-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-015-0493-1

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