--- title: ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) Test type: test id: alt url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/alt" price_usd: 18.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 24.99 cpt: 84460 category: Liver Health sample: Blood draw fasting_required: false results_in: "1–3 business days" labs: - Quest - Labcorp orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-09-14 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=alt&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) Test > The most specific liver enzyme — elevated ALT is a strong indicator of liver cell damage, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $18.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 1–3 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $18.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($24.99 all-in for this test alone) | | CPT code | 84460 | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 1–3 business days | | Labs | Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp | | Biomarkers measured | 1 | | Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed | | Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) | ## What does the ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) test tell you? The most specific liver enzyme — elevated ALT is a strong indicator of liver cell damage. ALT is an enzyme found primarily in the liver. When liver cells are damaged or inflamed, ALT leaks into the bloodstream, causing levels to rise. It's considered the most specific single marker for liver damage. Elevated ALT can indicate hepatitis, fatty liver disease, medication toxicity, or alcohol-related liver damage. **Clinical use:** Alanine Aminotransferase — the most liver-specific enzyme. Elevated ALT signals hepatocellular injury from fatty liver, alcohol, viral hepatitis, or medications. The most sensitive single marker of liver inflammation. ## Who should order it? Anyone monitoring liver health (statins, acetaminophen, alcohol intake), suspected fatty liver disease, post-Hep B/C exposure, anyone with right-upper-quadrant pain or jaundice, monitoring TRT or anabolic steroids. ## Biomarkers measured - [ALT](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/alt) ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $18.99 | $24.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | | Labcorp | $18.99 | $24.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added. ## How much does a ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) test cost? A ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) test costs $18.99 at TestWell — $24.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $60.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible. | Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $18.99 | $24.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $60.00 | $60.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | Lab test codes: Quest test code 823 · Labcorp test no. 001545. ## How do you prepare? No fasting required. Avoid alcohol and strenuous exercise for 24 hours before. ## Related conditions - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (K76.0) - Hepatitis (viral) (B19.9) - Alcoholic liver disease (K70.9) - Drug-induced liver injury (K71.9) ## Common questions about the ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) test ### What's a normal ALT level? Men: 7-55 U/L. Women: 7-45 U/L. Optimal for metabolic health: under 30 U/L for men and under 19 U/L for women per the AGA's MASLD/NAFLD guidance. Persistent elevation above the upper limit warrants investigation; sudden spikes (>3x upper limit) suggest acute injury. ### What's the difference between ALT and AST? ALT is more liver-specific; AST is also produced by muscle, heart, and kidney. AST/ALT ratio is diagnostic: >2 suggests alcoholic liver disease; <1 typically indicates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or viral hepatitis. Both are usually ordered together — the [CMP](https://www.test-well.com/tests/comprehensive-metabolic-panel) includes both. ### What raises ALT besides liver disease? Recent intense exercise (especially weight training) can raise ALT 1-3x for several days. Statins, acetaminophen, antibiotics (azithromycin, amoxicillin/clavulanate), and many supplements (especially green tea extract, kava, niacin) can cause transient elevations. Recheck after 2-4 weeks of rest before assuming chronic disease. ### How much does an ALT test cost without insurance? On TestWell, the standalone ALT test is $18.99 — one of the cheapest labs we offer. The [CMP](https://www.test-well.com/tests/comprehensive-metabolic-panel) at $22.99 includes ALT plus 13 other markers, making it usually a better value. Quest Direct lists standalone ALT at $20; hospital labs typically bill $40-60. ### What is the CPT code for an ALT test? The CPT code for ALT (SGPT) is 84460. ### Do I need to fast for an ALT test? No fasting required for ALT alone. But it's usually drawn alongside a [CMP](https://www.test-well.com/tests/comprehensive-metabolic-panel) or [lipid panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/lipid-panel) (which do require fasting), so most people fast anyway. ### Should I order ALT alone or get a Liver Panel? If you only want to track ALT trends (e.g., on a statin or after an elevation), standalone is fine. For initial liver evaluation, the [Liver Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/liver-health-panel) includes ALT, AST, [GGT](https://www.test-well.com/tests/ggt), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and albumin — much more diagnostically useful for the same price tier. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=alt&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown 2. Create an account or sign in, confirm your state and preferred lab, pay by card, HSA or FSA. 3. A licensed physician authorizes the order (usually within minutes); the requisition arrives by email. 4. Walk into any Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites. 5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 1–3 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [All Liver Health tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/liver-health) - [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory) --- Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-14. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/alt Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.