SGOT is also called as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme (protein) normal found in liver and heart. High levels of SGOT are seen in the blood when the liver cells are damaged (ex-viral hepatitis) or when there is exertion on the heart muscles (ex. heart attack), when SGOT leaks into the blood.

SGOT is an important enzyme used to test the liver function.

Reference Values
Reference Value depends on age, gender and medical history.
Typically the range for normal SGOT is reported between 10 to 40 units per liter

Interpretations
Very high levels of SGOT (more than 10 times normal) are indicative of liver disorders such as acute hepatitis. Levels of SGOT is over 1000 times normal in an event of exposure to drugs or other substances that are toxic to the liver as well as in conditions that can cause decreased blood flow (ischemia) to the liver.

With chronic hepatitis, SGOT levels may not go as high and remain at levels which are roughly 4 times the normal range, and are more likely to remain normal than SGPT levels.

In most types of liver disease, the SGOT level is higher than SGPT and the ratio will be less than 1. However in certain liver disorders like alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, the ratio can go higher.