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Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) - description and reference ranges

What is it?

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme produced by the liver and bones. It is used as a marker of liver function/damage and high levels of ALP may be an indicator that the liver has been damaged.

It is worth noting that smaller amounts of ALP are found in the placenta of women who are pregnant, and in the intestines.

Reference ranges

If your indicative ALP level is lower than the reference range for our laboratory:

Low levels of ALP are not particularly common. It may imply low levels of zinc in the body or general malnutrition, some types of anemia or thyroid disease

Please discuss this result with your GP.

If your indicative ALP level is higher than the reference range for our laboratory:

Elevated levels of ALP are usually due to a disorder of either the bone or liver.

The liver disorder is usually supported by elevated levels of other biomarkers, such as Bilirubin, Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT).

A bone disorder is usually supported by abnormal measurements for Calcium and Phosphate.

Please discuss this result with your GP.

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