If you have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), it’s critical to monitor your liver health. Blood tests that measure liver function are one way to do that. Many at-home liver function tests are on the market, allowing you to check your liver function from home.
At-home tests can be especially important for Hispanic communities, as they’re more likely to be affected by MASLD. This means you might be at a higher risk just because of your ethnicity.
But doctors warn to use these tests as screening tools and not as replacements for liver disease care. As a screening tool, the tests give a general view of your liver health. If the tests show that something is off, it’s time to head to your doctor for all future tests.
What Is MASLD?
MASLD occurs when extra fat builds up in your liver. It used to be called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Blood tests are just one tool doctors use to diagnose MASLD. The tests check levels of liver enzymes and other proteins in your blood. But your doctor will also use other tests and look at cardiovascular factors (things that involve your heart) such as measuring your lipid levels. Imaging tests can also be helpful. They give your doctor a clear picture on how much fat and scarring (fibrosis) is in your liver, while a biopsy tests tissue directly from your organ.
Currently, there’s no cure for MASLD. You can reverse it or slow it down by:
- Losing weight
- Eating a high-protein, low-carb diet
- Exercise
- Limit or stop drinking alcohol
- Take vitamin E daily
- Managing blood sugar if you have diabetes
There are medications that can be used in certain cases to help with weight loss, diabetes, or if MASLD has progressed to liver damage. The FDA approved resmetirom (Rezdiffra) for adults who have the advanced stage of MASLD, called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH. Combined with diet and exercise, it treats moderate to severe liver scarring, known as fibrosis.
What Are at-Home Liver Function Tests?
Liver function tests use a blood sample to measure the levels of certain things made in your liver, including proteins and enzymes in your blood.
Regularly checking your liver function can help your doctor see how well your treatment is working and monitor liver function over time.
If something is off, your doctor will need to take a deeper look with tools only they can provide. At-home tests can't replace the complete care that your doctor can provide.
What Do at-Home Liver Function Tests Not Measure?
Liver function tests that you get at your doctor’s office can measure levels of various liver enzymes and other proteins. This can show your doctor if your liver is working properly. Some of the main tests measure the following:
Albumin. A liver protein that helps your doctor see how well your liver is working.
Total protein. This test measures levels of albumin and globulins, which are proteins mostly made in your liver.
Liver enzymes. Liver tests can look at levels of ALP (alkaline phosphatase), ALT (alanine transaminase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase). These liver enzymes, or proteins, can play a role in liver function and indicate if something is not working as well as it should.
Bilirubin. This is a substance your body makes when breaking down old red blood cells. It’s your liver's job to remove it. Bilirubin gives bile its yellow color. A bilirubin test (called TBil or total bilirubin) measures the amount of bilirubin in your blood. High levels might mean there are problems with converting bilirubin into bile or blockages in the bile ducts.
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). This enzyme is present throughout your body but most of it is in your liver.
Prothrombin time (PT). This is a protein made in the liver that helps the blood clot. A PT is a test that measures how many seconds it takes for your blood to clot. It may take longer than usual if you have liver disease.
Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). High levels of GGT may mean that you have liver disease. It can also show if you have bile duct damage, which happens when the ducts that move bile from your liver to your small intestine get clogged and damage your liver cells. This can cause liver failure.
The at-home test you buy may not measure all of these markers. Some tests on the market will only check for certain proteins. Be sure to find out what you need to look for when you try an at-home liver test. It’s a good idea to ask your doctor.
The tests don’t show how much fat is in your liver or if there’s scarring, which are important for understanding MASLD.
Who Should Use an At-Home Liver Function Test?
Using an at-home test as a screening tool can be a good idea if you don’t have liver damage but want to keep an eye on your liver health. This can be especially helpful for high-risk groups.
Some people take at-home tests if they drink a lot of alcohol, have a family history of liver disease, or are on medications that may cause liver damage. Check with your doctor to see which test they prefer.
But for those who already have liver damage, it’s smart to stick to formal blood tests through your doctor.
The tests your health care provider performs are more reliable and complete. Your doctor can also explain the results in detail. Based on your lab work and ultrasound results, your doctor can tell you if you qualify for specific treatments for advanced MASLD or liver disease.
If you think you have symptoms of a liver problem such as liver disease, those symptoms can include:
- Yellowing skin and whites of your eyes, which can indicate that you have jaundice
- Dark yellow urine
- Gray or clay-colored or black and bloody bowel movements
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss or gain
- Appetite loss
- Stomach swelling or pain
- Fatigue
What Should I Consider Before Taking an at-Home Liver Test?
Ask your doctor if they recommend at-home tests. If they say it’s a good idea, confirm that the test covers all the markers you need. Your doctor can tell you which markers should be included.
Before you use an at-home liver test:
- Check your state’s rules. A few states don’t allow people to buy at-home liver kits.
- Find out if the lab running your test is certified.
- Understand how to read the test. Be careful about misreading results on your own. Always contact a doctor if you’re unsure.
Where Can I Buy an at-Home Liver Test?
You can purchase a variety of home liver tests online. Some services let you buy the test online and have it done in your home.
At-Home Liver Tests on the Market
These are a few of the at-home liver tests:
- Choose Health has a liver panel that checks ALT, AST, the ratio of ALT and AST, and GGT.
- Lab.Me Crucial Health Test makes a test that checks liver and heart function at one time. In addition to multiple cholesterol markers, it can check your levels of GGT.
- Quest Health offers an at-home fatty liver panel that measures ALT, AST, and platelets in your blood. Based on those results, the company can run additional tests on the sample you provide to see if there’s further damage. You won’t collect the blood sample yourself with this test. Instead a technician will collect a sample at your home. The manufacturer says results are available in about five days.
- Verisana makes a home liver function test that identifies levels of ALT, AST, and TBil. It can take about two weeks to receive your results.
- Walk-In-Lab makes a test that checks for albumin, ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubin, and total proteins. Results would be available in two to three days.
Is an at-Home Liver Test Cheaper Than My Doctor Doing One?
This can depend on whether or not you have insurance.
If your insurance covers blood tests, it’s usually more complete and cost-effective to do a test at your doctor’s office. Home tests often are not as accurate and you might end up needing follow-up testing anyway. It might seem easier, but it’s not always the best option long-term.
If you don’t have insurance, the at-home tests may be cheaper than having one done by your doctor. But if you have an existing liver issue, the test may not cover everything your doctor needs to guide your care.
How Do I Use an at-Home Liver Test?
In general, most tests will have you prick your finger and press the blood onto a card or into a cartridge. For mail-in tests, you’ll mail the sample back to the manufacturer’s testing facility and wait for results.
Can I Get an at-Home Liver Test in Any U.S. State?
No. Check the manufacturers’ website or contact them to confirm that you can buy a test in your state. Some states don’t allow their residents to purchase the tests.
What Should I Do If My Results Are Abnormal?
With abnormal results, your doctor will need to monitor and look deeper into your health.
It’s important to also follow up with your doctor for routine blood tests, even if your at-home results are normal. At-home tests might not detect MASLD even if you have it. Without a correct diagnosis, your condition could get worse because you wouldn’t know how to manage it.
If you’re diagnosed with MASLD, there are a lot of steps you can take to slow or even reverse your condition.
Work with your doctor to manage your weight, treat diabetes, and address cardiovascular risk factors. Focus on a low-carbohydrate diet, and if you are carrying extra weight, aim to lose 10% of your body weight as part of your treatment plan. Ask your doctor for specific things you can do to improve your health.
With MASLD, your doctor may test your blood every three months to look for changes. Once your test results are stable, your doctor will usually recommend routine liver testing every six months.
Recap
At-home liver function tests may offer a simple way to check on your liver health. But they should be used as a screening tool rather than a replacement for medical care.
This is because they may not provide a full picture of your liver health or detect conditions like MASLD.
If your at-home test results are abnormal, follow up with a doctor.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: Thriva Co.
SOURCES:
Steven Shamah, MD, director of endoscopy at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Casey Chapman, MD, gastroenterologist, Baton Rouge General, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology: “Disparities for Hispanic Adults With Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease in the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.”
American Liver Foundation: “Silent Liver Diseases You Need to Know About.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD),” “Bilirubin Test.”
MedlinePlus: “Liver Function Tests,” “Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Test.”
Mayo Clinic: “Bile duct damage.”
University of Rochester Medical College: “Liver Panel.”
American Journal of the Medical Sciences: “Normal or near normal aminotransferase levels in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.”
Walk-In-Lab: “Hepatic Function (Liver) Panel Blood Test.”
Choose Health: “Optimize Your Liver Health.”
Verisana: “Liver Function Test.”
LabMe: “Liver & Heart Function At-Home Blood Test.”
Quest: “Advanced Fatty Liver Disease Test Panel.”
UptoDate: “Management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) in adults.”
Medline Plus: “Prothrombin Time Test and INR (PT/INR).”
Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Asia: “Circulating Total Bilirubin and Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Previous Myocardial Infarction.”
FDA: “FDA Approves First Treatment for Patients with Liver Scarring Due to Fatty Liver Disease.”
