FibroTest is a biomarker test that uses the results of six blood serum tests to generate a score that is correlated with the degree of liver damage in people with a variety of liver diseases. FibroTest has the same prognostic value as a liver biopsy. FibroSure uses quantitative results of five serum biochemical markers, α2-macroglobulin, haptoglobin, apolipoprotein A1, bilirubin, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), with a patient’s age and gender to generate a measure of fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in the liver.

FibroTest has been evaluated in relation to liver biopsy (the current reference standard in liver disease assessment) in people with hepatitis C, hepatitis B, alcoholic liver disease,and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. They are most useful for cirrhosis and less useful for other stages of liver disease.

PROCEDURE

The FibroTest score is calculated from the results of a six-parameter blood test, combining six serum markers with the age and gender of the patient: Alpha-2-macroglobulin, Haptoglobin, Apolipoprotein A1, Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), Total bilirubin, and Alanine transaminase (ALT). ALT is used in a second assessment called ActiTest that is part of FibroTest.

APPLICABILITY

FibroTest is independent of ethnic origin, sex, genotype, viral load, transaminases or the presence of comorbidities. The test has been validated in those over the age of 65 years, children, people with chronic kidney disease or kidney transplantation, hemophiliacs, patients with chronic inflammatory disease, and the general population.

The tests are not applicable in 1 to 5% of cases. These cases can be detected by laboratory safety algorithms and when detected they are indicated on the results sheet:

• Acute hepatitides, e.g., acute viral hepatitis A, B, C, D, E; drug-induced hepatitis
• Extrahepatic cholestasis, e.g., pancreatic cancer, gallstones
• Severe hemolysis, e.g., some heart valves
• Gilbert's syndrome with high unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia
• Acute inflammatory syndrome