BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAldolase blood testAldolase is a protein (called an enzyme) that helps break down certain sugars to produce energy. It is found in high amount in muscle and liver tissue.A test can be done to measure the amount of aldolase in your blood. How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed.Blood sampleVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test You may be told not to eat or drink anything for 6 to 12 hours before the test. You may be also told to avoid vigorous exercise for 12 hours before the test. Your health care provider will tell you if it is necessary to stop taking any medicines that may interfere with this test. Tell your provider about all the medicines you are taking, both prescription and nonprescription. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed This test is done to diagnose or monitor muscle or liver damage.Other tests that may be ordered to check for liver damage include:Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test Alanine aminotransferaseThe alanine transaminase (ALT) blood test measures the level of the enzyme ALT in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test Aspartate aminotransferaseThe aspartate aminotransferase (AST) blood test measures the level of the enzyme AST in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests that may be ordered to check for muscle cell damage include:Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) test Creatine phosphokinaseCreatine phosphokinase (CPK) is an enzyme in the body. It is found mainly in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle. This article discusses the test...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test Lactate dehydrogenaseLactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a protein that helps produce energy in the body. An LDH test measures the amount of LDH in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article In some cases of myositis, especially dermatomyositis, aldolase level may be elevated even when CPK is normal.MyositisMyositis is an inflammation or swelling of the muscles. It is most often caused by injury, infection, medicines, or an autoimmune disorder. Dermatom...Read Article Now Book Mark Article DermatomyositisDermatomyositis is a disease that involves muscle inflammation and a skin rash. Polymyositis is a similar inflammatory condition that also involves ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results Normal results range between 1.0 to 7.5 units per liter (0.02 to 0.13 microkat/L). There is a slight difference between men and women.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean A higher than normal level may be due to:Damage to skeletal muscles Heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver, pancreatic, or prostate cancer Prostate cancerMyositis is an inflammation or swelling of the muscles. It is most often caused by injury, infection, medicines, or an autoimmune disorder. Dermatom...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle disease such as dermatomyositis, muscular dystrophy, polymyositis Muscular dystrophyMuscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of inherited disorders that cause muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue, which get worse over time.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PolymyositisPolymyositis and dermatomyositis are rare inflammatory diseases. (The condition is called dermatomyositis when it involves the skin. ) These disease...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swelling and inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HepatitisHepatitis is swelling and inflammation of the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Viral infection called mononucleosisMononucleosisMononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, most often in the neck.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) HematomaA bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)Open ReferencesReferencesPanteghini M. Serum enzymes. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham Carey-Ann D, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 32.Vleugels RA, Jorizzo JL. Dermatomyositis. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 42.AllVideoImagesTogBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustrationBlood test - illustration Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.Blood testillustration Tests for Aldolase blood test Aldolase blood testRelated Information Enzyme(Special Topic)Muscle cramps(Symptoms)Hepatitis(Condition)Mononucleosis(Condition)Prostate cancer(Condition)Muscular dystrophy(Condition)Heart attack(Condition)Polymyositis - adult(Condition)Dermatomyositis(Condition)Hepatitis - InDepth(In-Depth)Prostate cancer - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 12/31/2023 Reviewed By: Neil J. Gonter, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, NY and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Aldolase blood testAldolase is a protein (called an enzyme) that helps break down certain sugars to produce energy. It is found in high amount in muscle and liver tissue.A test can be done to measure the amount of aldolase in your blood. How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed.Blood sampleVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test You may be told not to eat or drink anything for 6 to 12 hours before the test. You may be also told to avoid vigorous exercise for 12 hours before the test. Your health care provider will tell you if it is necessary to stop taking any medicines that may interfere with this test. Tell your provider about all the medicines you are taking, both prescription and nonprescription. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed This test is done to diagnose or monitor muscle or liver damage.Other tests that may be ordered to check for liver damage include:Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test Alanine aminotransferaseThe alanine transaminase (ALT) blood test measures the level of the enzyme ALT in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test Aspartate aminotransferaseThe aspartate aminotransferase (AST) blood test measures the level of the enzyme AST in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests that may be ordered to check for muscle cell damage include:Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) test Creatine phosphokinaseCreatine phosphokinase (CPK) is an enzyme in the body. It is found mainly in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle. This article discusses the test...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test Lactate dehydrogenaseLactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a protein that helps produce energy in the body. An LDH test measures the amount of LDH in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article In some cases of myositis, especially dermatomyositis, aldolase level may be elevated even when CPK is normal.MyositisMyositis is an inflammation or swelling of the muscles. It is most often caused by injury, infection, medicines, or an autoimmune disorder. Dermatom...Read Article Now Book Mark Article DermatomyositisDermatomyositis is a disease that involves muscle inflammation and a skin rash. Polymyositis is a similar inflammatory condition that also involves ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results Normal results range between 1.0 to 7.5 units per liter (0.02 to 0.13 microkat/L). There is a slight difference between men and women.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean A higher than normal level may be due to:Damage to skeletal muscles Heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver, pancreatic, or prostate cancer Prostate cancerMyositis is an inflammation or swelling of the muscles. It is most often caused by injury, infection, medicines, or an autoimmune disorder. Dermatom...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle disease such as dermatomyositis, muscular dystrophy, polymyositis Muscular dystrophyMuscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of inherited disorders that cause muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue, which get worse over time.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PolymyositisPolymyositis and dermatomyositis are rare inflammatory diseases. (The condition is called dermatomyositis when it involves the skin. ) These disease...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swelling and inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HepatitisHepatitis is swelling and inflammation of the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Viral infection called mononucleosisMononucleosisMononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, most often in the neck.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Multiple punctures to locate veins Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) HematomaA bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)Open ReferencesReferencesPanteghini M. Serum enzymes. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham Carey-Ann D, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 32.Vleugels RA, Jorizzo JL. Dermatomyositis. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 42.