Needlepoint is worked upon specialized types of stiff canvas that have openings at regular intervals. Embroidery that is not needlepoint often uses soft cloth and requires an embroidery hoop.
It is often ordered in conjunction with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as part of a liver panel or comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) to screen for and/or help diagnose liver disease. ALT is an enzyme found mostly in the cells of the liver and kidney. When the liver is damaged, ALT is released into the blood. This makes ALT a useful test for early detection of liver damage. AST and ALT are considered to be two of the most important tests to detect liver injury, although ALT is more specific to the liver than is AST.
When a doctor draws blood to complete an ALT and AST test, they typically look for indicators that something is malfunctioning within the body. Most doctors complete these two tests at the same time because they offer a better ratio for comparison.