Metabolic panel
AST
AST is an enzyme found in the liver but also in muscle, heart and red blood cells. Because it is less specific to the liver than ALT, the two are usually read together.
Typical adult reference range
Roughly 8 to 48 · U/L
Ranges vary between laboratories and by age, sex and method. Always read your own result against the range printed on your own report.
What a high result can mean
A raised AST can reflect liver irritation, but also muscle injury, intense exercise, and breakdown of red cells in the sample. A pattern where AST is roughly twice ALT is classically associated with alcohol-related liver injury.
What a low result can mean
A low AST is not generally considered clinically significant.
What commonly affects this result
Intense exercise in the days before, muscle injury, alcohol, some medicines, and sample handling.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- How does my AST compare with my ALT, and what does that ratio suggest?
- Could recent exercise explain this?
- Should these be repeated after avoiding alcohol and heavy exercise?
See what your own results say
Upload your blood test and get a plain English summary of every value on it, with the questions worth raising at your next appointment.
Analyse my resultsThis page explains what a test measures. It is general information, not medical advice, and it cannot tell you what your own result means. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and results are only meaningful alongside your history, your symptoms and your other results. Always discuss your results with your doctor.