Liver Function   Liver function tests (LFTs or LFs), are groups
of clinical biochemistry laboratory blood assays designed to
give information about the state of a patient's liver. The
parameters measured include PT/INR, aPTT, albumin, billirubin
(direct and indirect) and others. According to some, liver
transaminases (AST/ALT (SGOT/SGPT) are not liver function tests,
but are biomarkers of liver injury in a patient with some degree
of intact liver function.[citation needed] Other sources include
transaminases. Most liver diseases cause only mild symptoms
initially, but it is vital that these diseases be detected
early. Hepatic (liver) involvement in some diseases can be of
crucial importance. This testing is performed by a medical
technologist on a patient's serum or plasma sample obtained by
phlebotomy. Some tests are associated with functionality (e.g.,
albumin); some with cellular integrity (e.g., transaminase) and
some with conditions linked to the biliary tract (gamma-glutamyl
transferase and alkaline pho