The Full form of SGOT is Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase. SGOT is now commonly known as AST, which stands for aspartate aminotransferase. It is an enzyme which is found in liver, kidneys, skeletal muscles, heart cells, and other tissues except for bones. The levels of AST are generally low in the blood of a healthy person. The normal level of SGOT/AST in the blood of a healthy person is between 5 to 40 units per litre of serum (the liquid part of the blood).

When there is damage to the kidneys, liver, heart, and other tissues, the SGOT or AST is released into the blood. So, the increased level of SGOT in the blood is due to liver damage, muscle injury, heart stroke, or damage to tissues where it is present. The SGOT test is usually performed to check the level of this enzyme in the blood. It helps the doctor to diagnose damage to liver, kidney, heart, muscles, etc.

It is mostly done if a person has symptoms of liver damage, such as yellow skin and eyes, appetite loss, swollen belly, light-colored poop, swollen legs and ankles. The other reasons for this test are; drinking too much alcohol, Hepatitis virus infection, taking medications that may have negative effect on liver, family history of liver diseases, obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome, etc.