What is the normal reference range for AST?

What is the normal reference range for AST?

• A. 10-40
• B. 5-25
• C. 0-10
• D. 40-80

Answer: (A)

AST, or aspartate aminotransferase, is an enzyme found in liver, heart, and muscle. The normal reference range for adults is about 10 to 40 units per liter. Values within this range are considered normal for a healthy adult, though some laboratories may report slight variations like 8–40 or 10–42 U/L due to different assay methods. Elevated AST can indicate hepatocellular injury or muscle damage, but because AST is not liver-specific, results are interpreted alongside ALT and the clinical picture. Thus, 10–40 U/L is the typical normal range.

AST, or aspartate aminotransferase, is an enzyme found in liver, heart, and muscle. The normal reference range for adults is about 10 to 40 units per liter. Values within this range are considered normal for a healthy adult, though some laboratories may report slight variations like 8–40 or 10–42 U/L due to different assay methods. Elevated AST can indicate hepatocellular injury or muscle damage, but because AST is not liver-specific, results are interpreted alongside ALT and the clinical picture. Thus, 10–40 U/L is the typical normal range.