What to Look for in an At-Home Liver Test
Before comparing specific tests for liver health, it helps to know which markers matter most for liver function testing.
The core liver enzymes include ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase). ALT is the most liver-specific of the three. AST can also rise from muscle stress. GGT is particularly sensitive to alcohol use and bile duct issues.
The AST:ALT ratio provides additional context. When AST is higher than ALT (ratio above 2), it often suggests alcohol-related liver stress rather than metabolic causes.
Some tests also include metabolic markers like HbA1c (average blood sugar) and inflammatory markers like hsCRP. These help paint a fuller picture since fatty liver disease often develops alongside insulin resistance and chronic inflammation.
Choose Health Liver Function Test
Markers Tested (7 total):
- ALT
- AST
- AST:ALT Ratio
- GGT
- Average Blood Sugars (HbA1c)
- Inflammation (hsCRP)
- Visceral Fat assessment
Collection Method: Finger-prick blood sample
Lab Accreditation: CAP and CLIA-accredited laboratories
Price: $68
Turnaround Time: Results in 2-4 days from shipping
Results Delivery: Online dashboard with personalized AI recommendations
What It Covers Well: Choose Health includes all three core liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT) plus the AST:ALT ratio calculation. The panel also adds metabolic context through HbA1c and inflammation assessment through hsCRP. This combination helps identify whether elevated enzymes relate to metabolic dysfunction, which often precedes obvious blood sugar changes.
SiPhox Health Heart & Metabolic Program
Markers Tested (20 total, liver-relevant subset):
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- Direct Bilirubin
- Total Bilirubin
- AST:ALT Ratio
- Plus additional metabolic markers (lipids, glucose, insulin, etc.)
Note: GGT is not included in the standard Heart & Metabolic panel. It may be available as a separate add-on.
Collection Method: EasyDraw upper arm collection device
Lab Accreditation: CLIA-certified laboratory
Price: Membership starting at $125 after shipping (subscription based setup where the customer may choose the cadence at which they test and which panel to do (longevity, thyroid, hormone, or heart & metabolic, or you can add on their full scope panel for an extra $125.)
Turnaround Time: 5-7 days
Results Delivery: Dashboard with AI health assistant, wearable integration, supplement recommendations
Geographic Restrictions: Not available in New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island
What It Covers Well: SiPhox offers a broader metabolic panel with 20 biomarkers, making it useful for overall cardiovascular and metabolic health monitoring. The membership model works well for people who want to track multiple health areas over time. However, without GGT in the standard panel, it may miss an important marker for alcohol-related liver stress and oxidative damage. SiPhox also allows users to connect with wearable devices such as the Oura Ring, Whoop, and Apple Watch, pairing with their own app.
Verisana Liver Tests
Collection Method: Dried blood spot (finger prick)
Lab Accreditation: CLIA-certified partner laboratory
Turnaround Time: Customer’s receive their test kit in 5-7 days, will ship it out and wait for lab processing. Verisana’s lab processes kits daily but their website does not give specific time estimates.
Results Delivery: Lab report uploaded to confidential online account with symptom information
Geographic Restrictions: Not available in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, or Maryland
What It Covers Well: The comprehensive option includes the full enzyme panel plus metabolic and inflammatory markers. The basic option works for simple screening but lacks GGT, which can be an early indicator of liver stress before ALT rises and is the biomarker most clearly impacted by alcohol.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Which Test Makes Sense for Different Situations
For liver-focused monitoring: Choose Health or Verisana Comprehensive both include the full enzyme panel (ALT, AST, GGT) plus metabolic context. Choose Health offers faster results and personalized recommendations at a significantly lower price point and includes additional biomarkers Visceral Fat whereas Verisana Comprehensive offers Total Bilirubin.
For broader metabolic health: SiPhox Health covers markers across cardiovascular and metabolic categories and allows syncing with wearable health devices (Apple Watch etc). If you want comprehensive health tracking beyond liver function, the membership model provides ongoing value. It is the only one of the three providers that offers direct bilirubin as a biomarker. Just note that liver-specific coverage is limited without GGT. Choose Health and Verisana offer subscription services and a variety of additional tests as well.
For basic screening: Verisana's basic test covers ALT, AST, and bilirubin at $119. This works for simple checks but misses GGT, which often rises before ALT in cases of alcohol-related stress or early metabolic dysfunction, and is more expensive than Choose Health’s liver function test measuring 7 biomarkers.
Why GGT Matters
GGT deserves special mention because it's often the earliest liver marker to change. Research shows GGT rises years before blood sugar markers shift in people developing metabolic dysfunction. It's also highly sensitive to recent alcohol consumption, making it useful for tracking how your liver responds to changes in drinking habits.
Tests that exclude GGT may miss early warning signs that ALT and AST haven't picked up yet.
What Happens After Testing
Getting results is only the first step. The real value comes from understanding what your numbers mean and tracking them over time.
Most early-stage liver issues show no symptoms. That's why regular testing matters even when you feel fine. A single test establishes your baseline. Repeat testing every few months shows whether lifestyle changes are working.
If your results show elevated enzymes, the typical recommendation is to retest in 4-12 weeks after making adjustments. For alcohol-related elevations, 2-4 weeks often shows measurable improvement.
Getting Started
Want to see where your liver health stands? Take the Choose Health liver assessment to get your personalized liver health score.
