No single blood test can diagnose liver cancer, but liver cancer blood tests can detect signs of liver dysfunction. Depending on a person’s signs and symptoms, a doctor may recommend further testing, such as a liver biopsy.
Although blood tests cannot diagnose liver cancer, they
Some liver diseases, including viral hepatitis, are
In this article, we examine the blood tests doctors use to detect liver cancer. We look at the types of blood tests, what they measure, and other tests healthcare professionals use for liver cancer.

A doctor may order blood tests to screen for liver cancer if a person has a
- cirrhosis
- hereditary hemochromatosis, where the body absorbs excess iron from the diet
- chronic hepatitis B
A doctor
- an enlarged liver
- weight loss
- chronic abdominal pain
- swelling in the belly
- jaundice
Additionally, a doctor may order liver cancer blood tests if routine bloodwork returns an atypical result.
Liver cancer blood tests
- Liver dysfunction: Liver function tests can show signs of liver damage. This may mean a person has liver disease, including cancer or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP): AFP is present in high levels in people with cancer or liver disease or who are pregnant.
- Blood clotting issues: The liver helps make proteins that support blood clotting. A blood clotting test that shows slow clotting could be a sign of liver damage from cancer or another disease.
- Organ damage: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels can help assess how well the kidneys work. Kidney disease can be a risk factor for and sometimes a byproduct of liver disease.
- Other diseases: Blood tests for other diseases, such as hepatitis, may help explain symptoms of liver damage.
- Other signs of disease: Changes in blood chemistry or the balance of red and white blood cells may signal severe disease, including liver cancer.
The following
Complete blood count
A complete blood count can show signs of illness. For example, white blood cells may be higher than expected in a person with cancer or an infection. A doctor may recommend additional tests according to the results of a complete blood count.
Blood chemistry testing
Blood chemistry testing looks for changes in the balance of various chemicals in the blood. For instance, an increase in calcium and a drop in glucose could indicate liver cancer.
Liver function tests
When the liver is damaged, it
Certain liver diseases that decrease bile flow can also elevate bilirubin levels in the blood. High liver enzymes or bilirubin suggest that a person has liver disease, such as liver cancer, but a doctor will need to carry out more tests.
The proportion of liver enzyme elevations may help indicate cancer. For example, elevations in ALT and AST without significant elevations in bilirubin or ALP may suggest a problem in the cells of the liver, including potential cancer.
Hepatitis tests
Viral hepatitis is a contagious and
However, chronic hepatitis is a risk factor for liver cancer. So, a doctor may still recommend other tests to rule out liver cancer.
Test of blood clotting
The liver helps manufacture proteins that allow blood to clot and stop bleeding. Slower clotting times may signal damage to the liver. A prothrombin time test
AFP test
AFP is a protein that
A doctor will need to carry out additional testing to diagnose liver cancer. Some tests a doctor
Typical blood tests
- no signs of hepatitis or other infections
- no elevations in liver enzymes
- no changes in blood chemistry
- no signs of kidney failure, such as elevated BUN levels
- typical blood clotting rate
Blood tests alone cannot conclusively diagnose cancer. But in combination with other tests, such as a liver ultrasound, they may strongly indicate the disease. If a doctor suspects liver cancer, they
If a person already has another type of cancer, atypical test results could mean either that cancer has spread to the liver or is damaging organs.
Atypical test results
- hepatitis
- nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- alcohol-related liver damage
- gallbladder disease
- blockages in or around the liver
- pregnancy-related liver conditions such as obstetric cholestasis
No single blood test can diagnose liver cancer, but blood tests can help indicate liver problems that doctors can confirm through further testing.
Many different medical conditions can cause elevated liver enzymes and other signs of liver damage. Some conditions, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, are common and manageable, while others, such as viral hepatitis, require rapid treatment.
Early stage liver cancers with a liver transplant have 5-year survival rates of
Doctors perform further investigations following atypical liver function tests to rule out cancer and other severe medical conditions. Blood tests and other testing methods can also help people access treatment before their condition worsens.