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Test Code AST AST (SGOT)

Additional Codes

Cerner

NextGen

AST  (SGOT)

AST  (SGOT)

AST

 

Alternate Name(s)

Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)

Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT)

Useful For

Aspartate aminotransferase is present in high activity in heart, skeletal muscle, and liver. Serum AST increases in myocardial infarction, pulmonary emboli, skeletal muscle trauma, alcoholic cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, and drug induced hepatitis.

Methodology

Colorimetric (reflectance spectrophotometry) using pyridoxal-5-phosphate.

Patient Preparation

None

Collection Instructions

Standard phlebotomy practices.

Do not lay PST or SST tube down after centrifuging.

Specimen Requirements

Container

Specimen Type

Tube

Lithium Heparin Plasma

PST

 or  or 

Serum

 or 

SST

 or  or 

 

Stability

Storage

Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

18-28°C

≤ 3 days

Refrigerated

 2-8°C

≤ 7 days

If separated within 3 days

Frozen

≤-18 °C

≤ 3 months

Rejection Criteria

Gross Hemolysis

Result Reporting and Reference Values

Reported in units/L.

Age

Sex

Low

High

Critical Low

Critical High

0-1Y

M

3

74

N/A

N/A

F

3

74

N/A

N/A

1-18Y

M

5

41

N/A

N/A

F

5

41

N/A

N/A

18-150Y

M

17

59

N/A

N/A

F

14

36

N/A

N/A

Reflex Testing

None

Limitations

  • Ortho reports the following biases:
    • Tolazamide at 40 mg/dL can cause a -16 U/L bias
    • N-acetylcysteine at 180 mg/dL can cause a -18 U/L bias
  • Ortho reports no significant effect with the following:
    • Bilirubin up to 40 mg/dL
    • Lipemia up to 800 mg/dL
  • The following interpretive data is visible to the practitioner:
    • Tolazamide and N-acetylcysteine creates a significant negative bias.