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Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme test that measures liver and bone health by checking enzyme levels in blood.
{"ALP is an enzyme found mainly in the liver, bones, and intestines","High ALP levels may indicate liver disease, bone disorders, or bile duct obstruction","Normal levels vary by age and gender, with higher levels in growing children and pregnant women","The test requires a simple blood draw","Certain medications and foods can affect ALP levels"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 1781-4
- Short code
- ALP
- Synonyms
- ALP Regan SerPl-cCnc
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Serum separator tube (SST/Gel tube) or plain red top tube
- Units
- not specified
- Ref low
- 44
- Ref high
- 147
- Critical range
- 5 not specified – 500 not specified
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 18 years
- Method
- Spectrophotometric colorimetric assay using para-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP) substrate
- CPT
- 84075
- SNOMED
- 271560006
- Specimen volume
- 1.0-2.5 mL serum minimum
- Stability
- Room temperature: 7 days; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days; Frozen (-20°C or below): 30 days. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 50
- Lipemia max
- 300
- Icterus max
- 20
- TAT
- 1–24 hours
- Order
- routine
What is the Alkaline Phosphatase Test?
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme that exists in various tissues throughout the body, with the highest concentrations in the liver, bones, intestines, and kidneys. The ALP blood test measures the amount of this enzyme in your bloodstream. Because ALP levels can indicate problems with these organs, this test is commonly included in routine liver function panels and is used to help diagnose and monitor liver diseases, bone disorders, and other health conditions.
During the test, a healthcare professional will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. You typically do not need to fast before this test, though your doctor may instruct you to do so depending on other tests being performed simultaneously.
Reference range
44-147 U/Lnot specified
No fasting or special preparation required
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Elevated ALP levels can indicate several conditions. Liver-related causes include hepatitis, cirrhosis, bile duct obstruction, or liver tumors. Bone-related causes include Paget's disease, osteomalacia, bone metastases, or rapid bone growth (common in children). Other causes may include certain medications, fatty liver disease, or heart failure. Low ALP levels are less common but can result from malnutrition, zinc deficiency, hypothyroidism, or certain genetic disorders.
Your doctor will interpret your ALP results together with other liver function tests (such as ALT, AST, and bilirubin) to get a complete picture of your liver health. Elevated ALP alone does not diagnose a specific condition but guides further testing to determine the underlying cause.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to prepare for the ALP test?
What are normal ALP levels?
Can ALP levels be high without serious disease?
What happens if my ALP is abnormal?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 10, 2026. · Read our editorial policy