Lab test · Hepatology
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
Liver & bone health
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 24 hours
- Home collection
What this test is for
Liver & bone health
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found mainly in the liver, especially in the cells lining the bile ducts, and in bone. Smaller amounts come from the gut and, in pregnancy, from the placenta. ALP rises when bile flow is blocked or when bone cells are very active, so it helps doctors look into both liver and bone problems.
Why a doctor may order it
- As part of a liver function test, particularly with jaundice or itching
- To look for a blocked bile duct, for example from gallstones
- To look into bone pain or bone conditions, including low vitamin D
- To monitor liver or bone disease and its treatment
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
You can eat and drink normally, as fasting is not required for this test. Keep taking your regular medicines unless your doctor has told you otherwise, and let your doctor know if you are pregnant.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- At the home visit, a small blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm, which only takes a few minutes. ALP is usually measured on the same sample as any other liver tests you have booked.
- Report
- Within 24 hours of collection.
What the results can mean
Your report shows ALP beside the laboratory's range, which is higher for children and teenagers because their bones are growing. A raised ALP can point to a bile duct blockage or a liver condition, or to a bone condition such as a healing fracture, vitamin D deficiency or Paget's disease. It is also normally higher in late pregnancy. Your doctor will interpret the result together with other tests, such as GGT, bilirubin, calcium and vitamin D.
What's included
One test: Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is an enzyme found mainly in the liver and bile ducts.
- Liver Function Test (LFT)Liver function৳550
- Bilirubin (Total, Direct and Indirect)Bilirubin is a yellow substance made when old red blood cells are broken down.
- Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy)This test measures 25-hydroxy vitamin D, the main form of vitamin D stored in the body and the standard measure of your vitamin D status.
- Serum CalciumThis test measures the total amount of calcium in your blood.
- Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)PTH is a hormone made by the parathyroid glands, usually four small glands in the neck next to the thyroid.
Questions people ask
Why is ALP higher in children?
Children and teenagers have growing bones, and bone-building cells release ALP. So a level that would be high for an adult can be normal for a child.
How do doctors tell if a high ALP comes from the liver or bone?
They look at other tests. A raised GGT alongside ALP suggests the liver, while a normal GGT with bone symptoms, low vitamin D or calcium changes suggests bone.
Can pregnancy raise ALP?
Yes. The placenta produces ALP, so levels normally rise in the later months of pregnancy.
How much does a ALP test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳150, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the ALP test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the ALP report take?
The report is usually ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.