Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP): Potential Sources of Error in your Lab Result
What is the Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) test? An alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test measures the amount of ALP in your blood. Where is this enzyme found in the body? ALP is an enzyme found in many parts of your body. Each part of your body produces a different type of ALP. Most ALP is found in your liver, bones, kidneys, and digestive system. What can abnormally high or low blood ALP results mean? Abnormal levels of ALP in your blood may be a sign of a wide range of health conditions, including liver disease, bone disorders, and chronic kidney disease. Alkaline phosphatase test alone can't identify the source of ALP in your blood, so other tests are usually needed to make a diagnosis. What if the ALP result is high? If your test results show high ALP levels, your provider may order other tests to help figure out what's causing the problem. These other tests include; An ALP isoenzyme test which can tell which part of your body is making the ALP or liver function tests. I...