Health Encyclopedia

Galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase blood test

Definition

Galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase is a blood test that measures the level of a substance called GALT, which helps break down milk sugars in your body. A low level of this substance causes a condition called galactosemia.

Alternative Names

Galactosemia screen; GALT; Gal-1-PUT

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some infants feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This is a screening test for galactosemia.

In normal diets, most galactose comes from the breakdown (metabolism) of lactose, which is found in milk and dairy products. One out of 65,000 newborns lack a substance (enzyme) called GALT. Without this substance, the body cannot break down galactose, and the substance builds up in the blood. Continued use of milk products can lead to:

Clouding of the lens of the eye (cataracts)
Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)
Failure to thrive
Yellow color of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
Liver enlargement
Intellectual disability

This can be a serious condition if not treated.

Every state in the United States provides newborn screening tests to check for this disorder.

Normal Results

The normal range is 18.5 to 28.5 U/g Hb (units per gram of hemoglobin).

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

An abnormal result suggests galactosemia. Further tests must be done to confirm the diagnosis.

If your child has galactosemia, a genetics specialist should be consulted promptly. The child should be put on a no-milk diet right away. This means no breast milk and no animal milk. Soy milk and infant soy formulas are generally used as substitutes.

This test is very sensitive, so it does not miss many infants with galactosemia. But, false-positives can occur. If your child has an abnormal screening result, follow-up tests must be done to confirm the result.

Risks

There is little risk in taking blood from an infant. Veins and arteries vary in size from one infant to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some infants may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

Excessive bleeding
Multiple punctures to locate veins
Fainting or feeling lightheaded
Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin, causing bruising)
Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

References

Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Galactose-1-phosphate - blood. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:550.

Patterson MC. Diseases associated with primary abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism. In: Swaiman KF, Ashwal S, Ferriero DM, et al, eds. Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 39.

Review Date:10/13/2022
Reviewed By:Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Associate Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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