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Test Code Billings Clinic: 4013 Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST/SGOT), Plasma

Performing Laboratory

Billings Clinic Laboratory: Chemistry

Useful For

  • The greatest concentrations of AST are found in the heart, liver, muscle and kidney tissues.  Damage to these tissues can greatly elevate serum AST levels. 
  • Following myocardial infarction, AST in serum begins to increase 6 to 8 hours from onset of pain, reaching a peak within 18 to 24 hours and falling to normal by the 4th or 5th day.
  • Serum values may increase to 10 to 15 times normal levels and the increase is roughly proportional to the degree of tissue damage.

Methodology

NADH without P5P

Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Serum or plasma should be physically separated from cells as soon as possible with a maximum limit of two hours from the time of collection.

 

Plasma

  • Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube(s).
  • Spin down and send 1 mL of heparinized plasma frozen.

 

Serum

  • Draw blood in a plain, red-top tube(s) or a serum gel tube(s).
  • Spin down and send 1 mL of serum frozen

Storage/Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Plasma Refrigerated 7 days
  Frozen (preferred) 1 month
  Ambient 3 days

 

Reject Due To

  • Hemolysis

Reference Values

0 - 10 days                47 - 150 Units/L

11 days - 2 years       9 - 80 Units/L

> 2 years                    3 - 37 Units/L

Day(s) Test Set Up

Daily

Test Classification and CPT Coding

84450 - Transferase; aspartate amino (AST) (SGOT)

LOINC Code Information

Reporting Name LOINC Code
AST 1920-8