Your liver is involved in over 500 different functions, covering everything from breaking down toxins to regulating your blood sugar levels. Located in the upper right of your abdomen, it’s one of the most important organs in your body.
Checking liver function is vital to understanding your current health levels. Whether it’s too much drinking, an unhealthy diet, or even your medications, your liver can become impaired. Identifying problems early reduces long-term damage and allows your liver to heal.
Learn how to check liver function, why it’s important, and what your test results mean below.
What is a Liver Function Test?
A liver function test (or just a liver test) is an assessment of your liver’s current health and condition. There are different types of liver tests, one performed by your doctor and the other you can do at home.
The home liver test involves testing your urine. It checks for:
- White blood cells (leukocytes)
- Nitrites
- Urobilinogen
- Protein
- pH
- Blood
- Glucose
- Specific gravity
- Bilirubin
Some of these biomarkers are related to kidney function. Of particular note for your liver is bilirubin, a breakdown product from red blood cells. Whenever your liver is damaged, bilirubin levels can rise, increasing excretion in the urine. Bilirubin in the urine is, therefore, a good marker for liver disease.
Your doctor can also order a blood test known as an LFT (liver function test). It looks for specific enzymes and proteins, which, if abnormal, indicate liver damage. If your urinary bilirubin levels are abnormal, we advise asking your doctor for this blood test. While it’s not diagnostic, it’s an excellent indicator that something might be going wrong.
Why Check Your Liver Function at Home
Not sure if you should check liver function at home? You should! Not only is the liver vital to almost every other system in your body, but it often goes underdiagnosed. We think about heart health or worry about our kidneys – however, liver conditions aren’t as well-recognised.
Some other reasons include:
- Early Detection of Liver Diseases: Home liver function tests can help detect conditions like hepatitis, fatty liver, or cirrhosis early before symptoms become severe.
- Convenience and Privacy: Checking your liver function at home allows you to monitor your health privately without the need for frequent doctor visits.
- Monitoring Chronic Conditions: If you have a pre-existing liver condition, regular at-home tests can help track changes in liver function, ensuring timely adjustments to your treatment.
- Post-Medication Monitoring: Certain medications can impact liver health, and home testing allows you to monitor any adverse effects without frequent hospital visits.
- Health Check for Alcohol Consumption: For individuals who consume alcohol regularly, liver function tests help ensure that consumption isn’t negatively affecting liver health.
- General Health Awareness: Regular testing helps you stay informed about your overall liver health, which is crucial for digestion, detoxification, and metabolic functions.
We would never advise using the results of a urine liver function test alone. However, it’s a fast and reliable way to receive comprehensive results. If you notice anything is abnormal or if you’ve noticed any symptoms (including loss of appetite, fatigue, loss of libido, or jaundice), we advise you to seek medical attention.
Understanding Liver Function Test Results
Our Liver Function Test analyses 10 key biomarkers (see above) that indicate an underlying health issue. After you’ve dipped the stick into your urine, you’ll see the results in less than an hour.
But what do these results mean? As mentioned, several of the biomarkers are indicative of a kidney or urinary tract infection. However, it still provides an excellent insight into liver function.
So, if you check liver function at home, here’s what it means:
- Urobilinogen. High urobilinogen levels can indicate liver function. This compound is a byproduct of bilirubin. If elevated, it could be a sign of hepatitis or cirrhosis. Conversely, low or absent urobilinogen may suggest bile duct obstruction, which is also a liver-related issue.
- Protein. Protein is more commonly a sign of kidney damage. However, in advanced liver disease, kidney function may be impaired, leading to protein leakage.
- Bilirubin. As mentioned, bilirubin is produced in the liver as a byproduct of haemoglobin breakdown. High bilirubin levels are a strong indicator of liver dysfunction, e.g., hepatitis, cirrhosis, or bile duct obstruction.
Check Liver Function at Home with Allergy Test Ireland
Want to check liver function with a reliable test? Our home urine health test provides a comprehensive overview of your kidney and liver function. You’ll receive your test kit and instructions within 1-3 business days. Simply use the urine dipsticks to test your urine and compare the results to the colour chart.
Order your test today and get results in the comfort of your own home. Your liver is essential for your overall health, so don’t wait—start taking care of it now!
Get your Liver Function Test here and get fast delivery and 24/7 support from our expert team.
