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Hepatology · London

Private liver function tests in London, plainly explained, expertly interpreted.

ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin and albumin - the core LFT panel, plainly explained, with an onward FibroScan or hepatology consult if anything is found.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private liver function tests cost in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers and laboratories.

In short

£45-£90, with results in 24 hours.

Test or panel Indicative range
Standard LFT panel £45–£90
LFTs + fasting lipids £75–£150
Full liver work-up (LFT + hepatitis + fibrosis markers) £250–£500
Liver panel + hepatologist review £400–£800
Elastography (FibroScan) £300–£600
NAFLD-focused panel £180–£360

Prices vary by laboratory, how many markers are included, whether a hepatologist review or FibroScan is added, and whether a phlebotomist comes to you.

The problem

An abnormal LFT is not a diagnosis.

Plenty of places will take your blood and email you a PDF with a red flag on it. Understanding the pattern - hepatocellular versus cholestatic, transient versus persistent - is the part that matters. Interpretation is where the value lies.

  • A worrying result?

    The questions are how significant it is, whether it needs repeating, and whether imaging or FibroScan is the sensible next step.

  • Fatty liver on ultrasound?

    LFTs are combined with fibrosis scoring and, where useful, FibroScan to risk-stratify properly.

What it shows

Find the panel that matches the question.

LFTs answer very different questions depending on why you are having them. These are the most common reasons people have this test.

  • Asymptomatic screening

    A baseline liver check as part of a general health review, or before starting a long-term medication.

  • Alcohol-related liver disease

    GGT, AST/ALT ratio and full LFT panel to assess damage and monitor recovery after cutting back.

  • Drug-induced hepatitis

    Monitoring for hepatotoxicity from prescription drugs, herbal remedies or over-the-counter medication.

  • Fatty liver disease (MASLD)

    Very common and often silent. LFTs are often combined with fibrosis markers and, where useful, FibroScan.

  • Viral hepatitis screening

    Hepatitis A, B and C serology with clear guidance on what a positive result actually means.

  • Pre-op work-up

    A baseline liver panel before surgery, anaesthesia or a new long-term prescription.

  • Right upper quadrant pain

    Persistent right-sided abdominal pain, nausea or indigestion - LFTs alongside an ultrasound if indicated.

  • Red flag: jaundice

    Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools - same-day GP or A&E, not a private clinic slot.

Popular panels

What each option is actually for.

  • Standard LFT panel

    ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin, total protein and albumin - the core seven markers.

  • LFTs + lipids fasting

    Adds cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides for a combined liver and cardiovascular baseline.

  • Full liver work-up

    LFTs plus hepatitis A/B/C, iron studies, autoimmune screen and non-invasive fibrosis markers.

  • LFTs + hepatology consult

    A full panel with a 60-minute consultant hepatologist review and management plan.

  • FibroScan (transient elastography)

    Non-invasive ultrasound-based measure of liver stiffness - the modern alternative to biopsy for fibrosis assessment.

  • Hepatitis serology

    Hepatitis A, B and C surface antigens and antibodies, with sensible next-step advice on any positive result.

  • NAFLD-focused panel

    LFTs with FIB-4 and NAFLD fibrosis score calculation to risk-stratify fatty liver disease.

  • Post-transplant surveillance

    Structured monitoring of graft function for patients under long-term hepatology follow-up.

Preparation and practicalities

One of the safest tests in medicine.

Liver blood tests are simple, but context matters - alcohol, exercise, medications and pregnancy all change what the numbers mean. Your clinician should explain exactly what to do.

  • Fasting and accuracy

    Fasting improves lipid accuracy but not LFT accuracy - you don’t need to fast for a standalone liver panel.

  • Alcohol in the 24 hours before

    Alcohol in the 24 hrs before a test can raise GGT and AST - avoid it if you want a true baseline.

  • Muscle exercise

    Heavy exercise raises ALT and AST because skeletal muscle contains both. Rest for 48 hrs before a repeat test.

  • Statin monitoring

    Statin monitoring is a common indication - a small rise in ALT is often expected and rarely a reason to stop.

  • Pregnancy

    Pregnancy has trimester-specific reference ranges - ALP in particular rises normally. Results should be interpreted accordingly.

  • Abnormal results

    Abnormal LFTs need repeat testing and, often, an ultrasound - one out-of-range number is not a diagnosis.

  • Fatty liver is common

    Non-alcoholic fatty liver is very common and modifiable - weight, diet and exercise change the numbers.

  • A normal LFT is reassuring but not proof

    A normal LFT does not rule out early fibrosis - FibroScan or scoring adds another layer where risk is present.

  • Bring prior results

    Always share prior results - trend matters more than any single value.

Reading your report

A liver panel can look intimidating. It isn’t.

However many markers are run, the report follows the same four parts.

A UK consultant hepatologist reviewing liver function test results

A quiet reminder

Reference ranges are a guide, not a verdict - context is everything.

Ask your clinician to talk you through the pattern before your follow-up.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication, medications and alcohol

    Why the test was requested, the medications you take, and your alcohol intake - all of which change how results are read.

  2. 02 Technique

    Which markers were included

    ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin, albumin and any add-ons such as hepatitis serology or fibrosis scoring.

  3. 03 Findings

    Each marker against its range

    Every marker alongside its reference range, with anything outside the range clearly flagged.

  4. 04 Impression

    Read this first

    Normal, hepatocellular versus cholestatic pattern, and whether imaging, repeat testing or a hepatology review is the sensible next step.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about liver function tests.

Quick answers on cost, fasting, alcohol, statins, pregnancy and FibroScan.

  • What do liver function tests actually measure?

    A standard LFT panel measures ALT and AST (enzymes released when liver cells are damaged), ALP and GGT (markers of bile-duct or cholestatic problems), bilirubin (a pigment cleared by the liver), and total protein and albumin (a measure of the liver’s synthetic function).

  • Do I need to fast for an LFT?

    No - a standalone liver panel does not need fasting. If you are having lipids or glucose at the same time, an 8-12 hour fast improves those results.

  • How long should I avoid alcohol before the test?

    At least 24 hours, ideally 48-72 hours. Alcohol in the day before the test can raise GGT and AST and make the panel harder to interpret.

  • I take a statin - will it affect my LFTs?

    A small rise in ALT is expected on statins and rarely a reason to stop. Statin monitoring is one of the most common reasons for repeat LFTs, and it helps you and your prescriber judge whether a change is warranted.

  • Are LFTs different in pregnancy?

    Yes - ALP rises normally in the third trimester because it is also produced by the placenta, and other markers have trimester-specific ranges. Pregnancy-specific reference ranges should be used when interpreting.

  • How much do private liver function tests cost in London?

    A standard LFT panel is typically £45-£90, LFTs with fasting lipids £75-£150, and a full liver work-up £250-£500. FibroScan starts at £300 and a full panel with a hepatologist review is £400-£800.

  • Do I need a referral?

    Most private LFT panels accept self-referral. A hepatologist consult or FibroScan is best arranged with clinical context, and a private GP or hepatology appointment is often available quickly.

  • How quickly do I get the results?

    Full work-ups with hepatitis serology and fibrosis markers take 3-5 days. FibroScan results are available on the day.

  • What is a FibroScan?

    FibroScan is a non-invasive ultrasound-based test that measures liver stiffness in a few minutes. It is the modern alternative to biopsy for assessing fibrosis, and is particularly useful for fatty liver and hepatitis follow-up.

  • When should I see a GP urgently rather than book privately?

    If you have jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), dark urine, pale stools, severe right-sided abdominal pain, confusion, or vomiting blood - that is a same-day GP or A&E situation, not a private clinic booking.

Related tests

Looking for something else?

In practice, in London

Getting liver function tests sorted in London, without the guesswork

With liver function tests, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Public provision for liver function tests is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.

A private liver function tests pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. For liver function tests specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.