Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Test

What is a gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) test?

A gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) test measures the amount of GGT in the blood. GGT is an enzyme found throughout the body, but it is mostly found in the liver. When the liver is damaged, GGT may leak into the bloodstream. High levels of GGT in the blood may be a sign of liver disease or damage to the bile ducts. Bile ducts are tubes that carry bile in and out of the liver. Bile is a fluid made by the liver. It is important for digestion.

A GGT test can’t diagnose the specific cause of liver disease. So it is usually done along with or after other liver function tests, most often an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test. ALP is another type of liver enzyme. It’s often used to help diagnose bone disorders as well as liver disease.

Other names: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, GGTP, Gamma-GT, GTP

What is it used for?

A GGT test is most often used to:

Help diagnose liver disease
Figure out if liver damage is due to liver disease or a bone disorder
Check for blockages in the bile ducts
Screen for or monitor alcohol use disorder

Why do I need a GGT test?

You may need a GGT test if you have symptoms of liver disease. Symptoms include:

Fatigue
Weakness
Jaundice, a condition that causes your skin and eyes to turn yellow
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain or swelling
Nausea and vomiting

You may also need this test if you had abnormal results on an ALP test and/or other liver function tests.

What happens during a GGT test?

A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

You don’t need any special preparations for a GGT test.

Are there any risks to a GGT test?

There is very little risk of having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruise at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.

What do the results mean?

If your results show higher than normal levels of GGT, it may be a sign of liver damage. The damage may be due to one of the following conditions:

Hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Alcohol use disorder
Pancreatitis
Diabetes
Congestive heart failure
The side effect of a drug. Certain medicines can cause liver damage in some people.

The results can’t show which condition you have, but it can help show how much liver damage you have. Usually, the higher the level of GGT, the greater the level of damage to the liver.

If your results show you have low or normal levels of GGT, it means you probably don’t have liver disease.

Your results may also be compared with the results of an ALP test. ALP tests help to diagnose bone disorders. Together your results may show one of the following:

High levels of ALP and high levels of GGT means your symptoms are likely due to liver disorder and not a bone disorder.
High levels of ALP and low or normal GGT means it’s more likely you have a bone disorder.

If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.

Is there anything else I need to know about a GGT test?

In addition to an ALP test, your provider may order liver function tests along with or after the GGT test. These include:

Alanine aminotransferase, or ALT
Aspartate aminotransferase, or AST
Lactic dehydrogenase, or LDH

References

American Liver Foundation. [Internet]. New York: American Liver Foundation; c2017. Diagnosing Liver Disease – Liver Biopsy and Liver Function Tests; [cited 2020 Apr 23]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/the-progression-of-liver-disease/diagnosing-liver-disease/#1503683241165-6d0a5a72-83a9
ClinLab Navigator [Internet]. ClinLabNavigator; c2020. Gamma Glutamyltransferase; [cited 2020 Apr 23]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: http://www.clinlabnavigator.com/gamma-glutamyltransferase.html
Hinkle J, Cheever K. Brunner & Suddarth’s Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 2nd Ed, Kindle. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; c2014. Gamma Glutamyl Transferase; p. 314.
Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2020. Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT); [updated 2020 Jan 29; cited 2020 Apr 23]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/gamma-glutamyl-transferase-ggt
Mayo Clinic Laboratories [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1995–2020. Test ID: GGT: Gamma-Glutamyltransferase, Serum: Clinical and Interpretive; [cited 2020 Apr 23]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/8677
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Blood Tests; [cited 2020 Apr 23]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-tests
UF Health: University of Florida Health [Internet]. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health; c2020. Bile: Overview; [updated 2020 Apr 23; cited 2020 Apr 23]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://ufhealth.org/bile
UF Health: University of Florida Health [Internet]. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health; c2020. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) blood test: Overview; [updated 2020 Apr 23; cited 2020 Apr 23]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://ufhealth.org/gamma-glutamyl-transferase-ggt-blood-test
University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2020. Health Encyclopedia: Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase; [cited 2020 Apr 23]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=gamma_glutamyl_transpeptidase
UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2020. Health Information: Liver Function Tests: Exam Overview; [updated 2019 Dec 8; cited 2020 Apr 23]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/testdetail/liver-function-tests/hw144350.html