Liver function tests (LFTs) result in many false positive results for each case of disease detected, and are not an efficient way to diagnose liver disease.
They should be used sparingly in primary care, concludes a study funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme. Liver function tests are common in the UK, but until recently it was unclear how effective these tests were in identifying specific liver diseases. The Birmingham and Lambeth Liver Evaluation Testing Strategies (BALLETS) study examined the test results of 1290 patients with abnormal LFTs, and categorised which, if any, diseases were present. The study found that fewer than 5% of patients with abnormal LFT results had a specific disease affecting the liver. The lead researcher, Prof. Richard Lilford of the University of Birmingham, commented: “An abnormal LFT result does not indicate any particular disease, so we recommend a more selected approach to using this particular blood test.” The study also showed that a test of just two chemicals – aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) – was more efficient than the standard six to eight panel LFT.
