HEALTH-BASED REFERENCE INTERVALS FOR ALAT, ASAT AND GT IN SERUM, MEASURED ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR CLINICAL LABORATORY STANDARDS (ECCLS)

The reference intervals for the activities of L-alanine aminotransfera se (EC 2.6.1.2, ALAT), L-aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1, ASAT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (EC 2.3.2.2, GT) in serum were determin ed according to the recommendations of the European Committee for Clin ical Laboratory Standards (ECCLS). Serum specimens from 954 subjects w ere analysed for ALAT and ASAT and from 794 subjects for GT. The subje cts, aged 27-67 years, were participants in general health surveys. Th e reference population was formed by excluding subjects with any disea se, or on any medication, affecting the liver, and also those consumin g excessive amounts of alcohol. The 95% inner reference intervals for ALAT and ASAT were 9-50 (n = 189) and 15-36 U l(-1) (n = 192) in men a nd 8-38 (n = 270) and 13-33 U l(-1) (n = 270) in women. For GT the ref erence interval was 11-58 in men (n = 165) and 8-42 U l(-1) in women ( n = 220). Serum GT levels correlated clearly with alcohol consumption. Serum ALAT and ASAT were only slightly associated with alcohol consum ption at levels less than 280 g per week in men and 190 g per week in women. There were modest positive associations between the three enzym e levels and body mass index. None of the enzymes correlated significa ntly with age.