Alkaline phosphatase: ALP Blood Test

ALP (Alkaline phosphatase)

ALP (Alkaline phosphatase) is a blood enzyme that can be seen throughout the body. ALP blood test measures the levels of alkaline phosphatase in the blood which comes from the bones and liver is me, and is equally part of the CMP (the comprehensive metabolic panel). Certain disorders of the bones or liver disease can be the result of high level of ALP in the blood.

Because ALP is found primarily in the liver it is often thought of as an enzyme of the liver. However, it is equally found in these locations:

• Courage.
• Placenta in pregnant women.
• Bile duct.
• Bones
• Kidneys.
• Tissue damage or interference with normal body processes can result to abnormal ALP levels in the blood.

What is an ALP (alkaline phosphatase) test?

The ALP amount in the blood is measured with ALP (alkaline phosphatase) blood test. ALP is an enzyme can be seen in many body parts. Different types of ALP are produced by each part of your body. The liver, digestive system, kidneys, and bones contains most of the ALP in your body.

Chronic kidney disease, bone disease, and liver disease can be the cause of abnormal ALP levels in the blood and many other health conditions. However, an ALP blood test alone cannot determine the source of blood ALP. Therefore, more tests are often needed to make a legit diagnosis.

If you have had abnormal ALP levels in previous tests, your doctor may order an additional ALP isoenzyme test. Even though isoenzyme blood tests can give more detailed info, may not be offered by some laboratories, and they are more technically expensive and demanding.

Other names of Alkaline Phosphatase: ALP, ALK PHOS, PHOS, ALK, Alkp.

The purpose of an ALP blood test

Determining if you have normal ALP enzyme levels is the goal of the ALP test. Screening, monitoring and even diagnosis of health conditions such as bone or liver diseases can be done with an ALP (alkaline phosphatase) blood test.

Screening: This are controls that looks for health problems even before the appearance of symptoms. It is a standard part of several measurement tests, such as CMP and the liver panel, ALP is rarely measured by itself. As routine part of checkup to detect possible health problems, these tests may be ordered.

Diagnosis: It describes methods used to find cause after symptoms appear. ALP is usually tested for diagnosis when there are possible liver problems signs, such as vomiting and nausea, jaundice, unexplained weight loss, stomach pain, or fatigue.

If you have possible bone disease symptoms, such as: abnormal bone shape, fracture susceptibility, or Bone pain. Determination of the root of common symptoms can be done with the help of an ALP blood test as part of a CMP, or liver panel.

ALP levels may be an essential diagnostic process part, even though it’s not enough to diagnose an underlying condition on its own. The severity or type of a disease may reflected with an ALP elevation. The body part affected and the diagnosis can be determined with an ALP isoenzyme test, which measures a specific type of ALP.

Monitoring: This procedure helps track your response to treatment or progress of your health condition. Determining if liver disease or another condition is getting better, staying the same, or worsening can be achieved with an ALP blood test often as part of a panel.

Why should I take an ALP blood test?

The amount of ALP in your blood can increase when your liver is not working properly. Doctors often use tests to check for bile ducts that have been blocked. Other medical conditions that can cause liver problems include:

• Hepatitis.
• Obstruction of the bile duct.
• Liver cancer.
• Cirrhosis.

This test can also detect bone problems, like:

• Bone growth problems (Paget's disease).
• Vitamin D deficiency problem.
• Cancer that has spread to your bones

How is a CMP (complete metabolic panel) or a liver panel different from ALP (alkaline phosphatase) blood test?

More than a single measurement of a blood draw is involved with Panel blood tests. For this reason a pure alkaline phosphatase ALP blood test provides less information than CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) or a liver panel test. While it is possible to have an ALP blood test alone, most of the time it will be combined with other test measurements in a panel to obtain a much clearer picture of liver health such as liver enzymes tests.

Who conducts ALP blood tests?

Usually, a phlebotomist called a doctor will draw blood, including for ALP blood tests, but any doctor trained in blood sampling can perform ALP blood test. A medical lab scientists will prepare the sample and perform ALP blood tests on equipment called analyzers after the sample is sent to the laboratory.

What to expect with ALP (alkaline phosphatase) blood test?

During an ALP blood test or blood draw, you should expect the following experiences:

• The doctor examines your arm for easily accessible veins while you’re seated on a chair. This is often on the other end of the elbow, on the inside of the arm.
• They then disinfect and clean the area once the vein is found.
• To take a blood sample, they then insert into the vein a small needle. It can feel as a slight sting.
• A small blood amount will be collected in the test tube, after the needle is inserted.
• The needle is then remove. To stop further the bleeding they will place a gauze or cotton ball over the area once there is enough blood to test.
• Put a bandage on that spot and you're done.

Less than 5 minutes is the time taken to complete the entire process.

Are there any risks in the ALP blood test?

The risk of an ALP blood test is very low. You may feel bruising or pain at the injection site, but most symptoms quickly go away.

What is the ALP (alkaline phosphatase) normal range?

From laboratory to laboratory, the ALP (alkaline phosphatase) normal range varies. Though some organizations recommend a range of 30 to 120 IU/L (international unit per liter), the common reference range is 44 to 147 IU/L. For this reason, it is essential to review the test report to determine the reference range for your specific laboratory.

It is also essential to note that the normal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood levels differ with gender and age. Due to growth and bone development, ALP levels generally increase during adolescence and childhood. ALP blood levels are slightly elevated in men than in women between the ages 15 and 50. In elderly people, ALP blood values rise again.

Because ALP is present in individuals who are recovering from a broken bone (bone fracture) and in the placenta, ALP levels may also be higher in people who are pregnant.

What do ALP test results mean?

An elevated ALP (alkaline phosphatase) level may be a sign of bone disease or liver problems. Different types of ALP are caused by bone diseases and liver problems. Test results cannot however determine which type of ALP is elevated.

Your doctor in order to find out the root of the problem may order more tests, if your test results show an elevated alkaline phosphatase level. These blood tests may be:

• ALP isoenzyme blood test: This test may not be available in all locations. However, it can determine which part of the body produces ALP.
• Liver function blood tests: It is likely that your ALP is high because of a liver problem if the results of this test are also high.

A high level of ALP in the liver can be a sign of:

• Hepatitis.
• Mononucleosis (which can often times cause inflammation of the liver).
• Obstruction of the bile duct.
• Cirrhosis.

You may have a bone disease, such as Paget's disease if your ALP blood level is high and liver test results are normal. This disease makes your bones abnormally weak and large, making them more likely to break.

Many types of conditions can be indicated by moderately high ALP level, including some infections, heart failure, or Hodgkin lymphoma.

It is possible that there is no disease that requires treatment though you have higher than normal ALP blood level. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will look at other test results, medical history, and your symptoms.

Low ALP values are less common. They may be an indication of Wilson's disease, thyroid disease, pernicious anemia, malnutrition, zinc deficiency, or hypophosphasia, a rare genetic condition that affects the teeth and bones.

Should you be worried if my ALP (alkaline phosphatase) test result is low or high?

It does not entail that you may have a health problem that requires treatment, if your ALP blood test reading is low or high. Other risk factors may affect your ALP blood level, including:

• Age (children and teenagers may have elevated levels because of growing bones).
• AIDS.
• Errors in the sample transport, collection or processing of your ALP blood test.
• Some medications, like birth control pills.
• Your nutrition.
• Pregnancy.

Your doctor will consider several aspects of your situation and health before he or she will determine if you need further testing, these examinations are:

• Medical history.
• How low or high your ALP blood level is.
• Other ALP associated tests results.
• If symptoms occur.
• Medications you are taking.

A message from Big Man Lab

It can be stressful seeing an out of normal range test results. Keep in mind that it does not always mean that you need treatment or you have the disease when you have low or high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level. One in twenty healthy individuals have abnormal ALP blood levels. To determine the cause of the abnormal reading, your doctor will tell you if you require to be further tested. Health care providers are there to help so do not be scared to pose your questions.