National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) DOT Practice Exam

In assessing liver health, which test is primarily utilized to evaluate liver function?

1. Complete blood count

2. Metabolic panel

3. Liver Function Tests

4. Thyroid function tests

The correct answer is: Liver Function Tests

Liver Function Tests (LFTs) are specifically designed to assess the health of the liver by measuring the levels of various enzymes, proteins, and substances produced by the liver. These tests provide critical information about liver function, including the liver’s ability to process and filter blood, produce proteins necessary for blood clotting, and metabolize substances. Key indicators in LFTs include alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, and albumin. The other options—Complete Blood Count, Metabolic Panel, and Thyroid Function Tests—serve different diagnostic purposes and are not specifically focused on liver function. The Complete Blood Count evaluates overall health and detects a wide range of disorders, ranging from anemia to infection. The Metabolic Panel often includes tests that measure blood glucose levels, electrolyte and fluid balance, and kidney function, which while important, do not directly assess liver health. Thyroid Function Tests evaluate hormonal levels to diagnose thyroid dysfunction, making them unrelated to liver function assessment. Thus, Liver Function Tests are the primary tool for evaluating liver health.