Minimally invasive liver testing in Guildford
Mount Alvernia Hospital in Guildford offers a Liver FibroScan™ test which can assess and evaluate your liver health.
It is offered by Professor Aftab Ala, consultant gastroenterologist endoscopist and Hepatologist.
FibroScan™ is a non-invasive test that assesses liver stiffness and fat content using transient elastography, which sends sound waves through your liver to measure its elasticity.
It helps diagnose and monitor liver fibrosis (scarring) and fatty liver disease in conditions like NAFLD, hepatitis B or C, and cirrhosis.
The test is fast and requires minimal preparation, making it a convenient alternative to a liver biopsy.
A GP or a consultant at Mount Alvernia Hospital can directly refer you for a FibroScan™ or you can be seen without a referral by booking online or calling Mount Alvernia Hospital directly on 01483 570122.
The scan can be performed in the initial consultation with or without a referral.
Patients with insurance may be able to have the FibroScan™ with their liver specialist at the time of their consultation, but we also offer the test to individuals without insurance.
To book a FibroScan™ you can book online or contact Mount Alvernia Hospital directly on 01483 570122 to arrange an appointment.
Please note that you must fast for four hours before the FibroScan™ test. Water is permitted.
Professor Aftab Ala is a consultant gastroenterologist endoscopist and hepatologist practicing at Mount Alvernia Hospital in Guildford.
He is the British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL) Chair for the Special Interest Group (SIG) in Rare Liver Disease and Wilson’s Disease and the South East Coast England National Institute for Health and Research (NIHR) Lead for liver disease.
"There are two main areas of focus with a FibroScan™ test. We can examine the presence of fatty liver and quantify its presence. The second area of focus is liver stiffness, which is synonymous with fibrosis or liver damage. As scarring (or fibrosis) develops it can progress to cirrhosis, so the scan can give you an instant answer to the degree of damage.
You can see the result instantly and discuss a treatment plan with the patient there and then. It’s a wonderful tool. Sometimes, where there is a scarring or liver fibrosis, we can do a second scan to see whether the damage worsens or improves over time. The same goes with fatty liver and there is increasing evidence that you can see the effect of GLP-1 (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Rybelsus) on the liver." – Professor Ala
Over 90% of liver disease is preventable with the right treatment, but treatment is always most effective when liver problems are identified at an early stage. A FibroScan™ test allows your specialist to keep track of liver damage and start treatment and can guide you in making the changes to your lifestyle and diet that will prevent the damage from getting worse.
"The presence of liver damage (scarring and fibrosis) can increase the risk of liver cancer. It is important to assess these early to reduce the risk. It is recommended that those with diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and a raised BMI get a blood test or Fibroscan to assess their risk"– Professor Ala
The government's guidance goes on to recommend that anyone who has drunk alcohol heavily for more than several months (e.g. men drinking > 50 units alcohol or ≥4 ½ bottles of wine a week or women drinking >35 units alcohol or ≥3 ½ bottles of wine or prosecco per week) should have a FibroScan™ to check their liver health. Patients infected with hepatitis B or C should also be scanned to look for evidence of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Patients with evidence of fibrosis due to fatty liver disease or individuals concerned that they may have caused alcohol damage should repeat the FibroScan™ every 2 years to reassess their risk of cirrhosis. Your liver specialist can use blood tests to assess whether you need to have the FibroScan™.
Mount Alvernia Hospital is based in Guildford, Surrey and offers excellent transport links by rail and road.
Liver problems picked up on an ultrasound scan or abnormal blood tests are always a cause for concern, but a consultation with one of our liver specialists will quickly put your mind at rest.
Please don't ignore liver problems as the earlier your condition is identified the better your response to treatment will be.
Book an appointment with one of our specialists today to arrange a FibroScan™:
Reception: 01483 570122
Mon-Sun: 7am - 9pm
Visiting hours: 9am - 9pm
37 spaces
