Are blood tests for liver reliable?

Q: What are the tests to check the condition of liver? Is it true that if the liver is damaged to the extent of 50 to 60 per cent, no apparent signs or discomfort is felt. The complications start once the damage is more than that and then it is too late. Does one need to get hospitalised for these tests or can they be conducted at various labs?

A:Blood tests for liver functions are very sensitive indicators and can be relied upon to give a good idea whether the liver is damaged or not. It is true to say that liver has got a great capacity to regenerate if damaged but the quality of new cells may not function 100%. This is well established and the message one gets from transplant units is that even a 25% by weight of the donor liver would be adequate to maintain good function.