Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

Test Code

822
84450
822
84450
Not offered in Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (IFD) – San Juan Capistrano. Please provide SERVICE AREA INFORMATION to find available tests you can order.
In-home collection may be available in your area for purchase through Quest Mobile.

Clinical Significance

Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) - AST is widely distributed throughout the tissues with significant amounts being in the heart and liver. Lesser amounts are found in skeletal muscles, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, lungs, and brain. Injury to these tissues results in the release of the AST enzyme to general circulation. In myocardial infarction, serum AST may begin to rise within 6-8 hours after onset, peak within two days and return to normal by the fourth or fifth day post infarction. An increase in serum AST is also found with hepatitis, liver necrosis, cirrhosis, and liver metastasis.

Test Resources

Clinical Focus

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Clinical Focus

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Test Guide

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Test Details

Methodology

Spectrophotometry  (SP)

Reference Range(s)

Male (U/L)Female (U/L)
<1 Month3-513-49
1-11 Months3-653-79
1-3 Years3-563-69
4-6 Years20-3920-39
7-19 Years12-3212-32
20-49 Years10-40
20-44 Years10-30
≥45 Years10-35
≥50 Years10-35

Alternative Name(s)

SGOT, AST

LOINC® Codes, Performing Laboratory

Service Area must be determined

Methodology

Spectrophotometry  (SP)

Reference Range(s)

Male (U/L)Female (U/L)
<1 Month3-513-49
1-11 Months3-653-79
1-3 Years3-563-69
4-6 Years20-3920-39
7-19 Years12-3212-32
20-49 Years10-40
20-44 Years10-30
≥45 Years10-35
≥50 Years10-35

Alternative Name(s)

SGOT, AST
Service Area must be determined

Preferred Specimen(s)

1 mL serum

Alternative Specimen(s)

Sodium heparin (green-top) tube • Lithium heparin (green-top) tube

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Transport Container

Serum separator tube (SST)

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

  • Serum and plasma
  • Room temperature: 4 days
  • Refrigerated: 7 days
  • Frozen: 5 days

Reject Criteria

Hemolysis • Anticoagulants other than heparin

Setup Schedule

Service Area must be determined
1 mL serum
Sodium heparin (green-top) tube • Lithium heparin (green-top) tube
0.5 mL
Serum separator tube (SST)
Room temperature
Serum and plasma
Room temperature: 4 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 5 days
Hemolysis • Anticoagulants other than heparin
Service Area must be determined
Not offered in Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (IFD) – San Juan Capistrano. Please provide SERVICE AREA INFORMATION to find available tests you can order.
In-home collection may be available in your area for purchase through Quest Mobile.
Test Details

Clinical Significance

Test Resources

Reference ranges are provided as general guidance only. To interpret test results use the reference range in the laboratory report.

The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidance and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payer being billed.

This material contains content from LOINC® (http://loinc.org). The LOINC Table, LOINC Table Core are copyright © 1995-2019, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee and is available at no cost under the license at http://loinc.org/license.

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