ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE

The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test measures how much alkaline phosphatase you have in your blood. Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found throughout your body. But it is mainly in your liver, bone, kidney, and digestive tract.

Using an ALP test, it is possible to measure how much of this enzyme is circulating in a person’s blood.

You may need this test if you're at risk for a condition that affects your liver. For instance, your blood can show higher levels of ALP if one of the bile ducts that drains your liver becomes blocked. Conditions such as liver cancer, cirrhosis, and hepatitis can also cause ALP levels to rise. Bone disorders like Paget disease and healing fractures are other things that may affect your ALP levels.

An ALP test is a simple procedure that measures the amount of ALP in the blood. ALP is an enzyme that is present in most parts of the body but is most abundant in the bones, liver, kidneys, gallbladder, and intestines.