I would have been better off, it turns out, using only a simple test called the AST-to-Platelet Ratio Index (
APRI), which anyone can calculate
for themself from their blood tests (as long as the hepatic transaminase AST and platelets are included in them). The formula is AST divided by ULN (the Upper Limit of Normal for AST, which is 42), divided by the number of platelets in thousands (for example 150), times 100. For example, if your bloods gave AST as 50, then 50 divided by 42 is 1.