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Alkaline Phosphatase Test

Dr. ReshmaLast Updated on 21st January 2022

An Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) test primarily measures the ALP, which is an enzyme that originates from the liver, digestive systems and bones. If you show symptoms of liver disease or a bone disorder, your doctor may ask you to get an alkaline phosphatase test, so it can measure the amount of enzyme in your blood and help you in diagnosis. Sometimes this test is also a part of a broader group of tests that check for liver functions. There are two main types of test

(ALP) blood tests: These can be a part of Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) or/and a Hepatic Function Panel (HFP) test. Commonly called as general ALP test
ALP Isoenzyme Test: These are advanced tests and can be advised for additional information on specific details around different types of alkaline phosphatase based on their origin.

What is the Alkaline Phosphatase Test used for?What is included in the Alkaline Phosphatase Test?Procedure for Alkaline Phosphatase Test How to prepare for an Alkaline Phosphatase Test?Things to consider after Alkaline Phosphatase Test is complete What types of infection can the Alkaline Phosphatase test detect?How much does an Alkaline Phosphatase test cost?*How long does it take to get the results for the Alkaline Phosphatase Test?

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What is the Alkaline Phosphatase Test used for?

The alkaline phosphatase test (ALP test) can help to determine the following:

cirrhosis
blockage of bile ducts
hepatitis
Cholecystitis

An alkaline phosphatase blood test can also help diagnose the following bone problems:

rickets
osteomalacia
Paget’s disease

This test can also be useful in answering for the presence of cancer tumors, unusual bone growth, or deficiency of vitamin D.

Higher blood levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) may also indicate problems with your liver or gallbladder. These problems may include:

gallstones
blockage of bile ducts
liver cancer
cirrhosis
hepatitis

What is included in the Alkaline Phosphatase Test?

Alkaline phosphatase is a kind of test that allows measuring the amount of ALP in your blood. You have alkaline phosphatase throughout your body, including your liver, digestive system, kidneys, and bones.
If you show signs of liver disease or a bone disorder, your doctor may order an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test to measure the amount of the enzyme in your blood and help in diagnosing the difficulty.
It is frequently ordered along with other tests, such as a gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) test and/or as part of a liver panel, which checks how your liver is working.

Procedure for Alkaline Phosphatase Test

In an ALP test, blood needs to be drawn from your arm, and it is performed by a healthcare practitioner.
The healthcare professional then sanitizes the skin on the front side of the elbow with alcohol and ties a tourniquet band, which will allow pooling the blood from the vein.
Insert the needle into the vein to draw blood and then collect it in a tube.
This process is simple and quick and causes less pain or soreness.
The blood sample is then collected, and further analysis is done in the laboratory. Usually, the ALP test takes 24-48 hours to get the report.

Book an alkaline phosphatase test to check your alkaline phosphatase level!

How to prepare for an Alkaline Phosphatase Test?

You may have to limit food and liquids for several hours before the test. Some medicines interfere with the results. So, make sure your doctor knows about all drugs you take, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. Be sure to let your doctor know if you are pregnant because that will increase the level of ALP in your blood.

Things to consider after Alkaline Phosphatase Test is complete

When the test is done, the lab tech will take the tourniquet off, and you will get a bandage on the spot where the needle went in. It takes only a few minutes. The sample is immediately sent to a medical laboratory for analysis. Most of the time, you will be able to return to your normal activities right away. Once the test results are back, your healthcare provider will share the results with you.

What types of infection can the Alkaline Phosphatase test detect?

The ALP test can be helpful in identifying conditions such as

Blockage of bile ducts (from a gallstone, inflammation, or cancer)
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
Rickets, a weakening or softening of the bones in children
Osteomalacia, a softening of the bones in adults usually due to significant vitamin D deficiency
Paget’s disease of the bone, a condition causing serious concerns with bone destruction and regrowth
ALP testing may also be helpful in investigating the presence of cancer tumours, unusual bone growth, or vitamin D deficiency.

How much does an Alkaline Phosphatase test cost?*

The cost may vary from city to city. However, the starting price of the test is between ₹70 and ₹200. From the below table, you can book the alkaline phosphatase test:

City	Test Price Starting from
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Delhi	₹ 70.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Gurugram	₹ 72.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Noida	₹ 72.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Ghaziabad	₹ 72.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Faridabad	₹ 75.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Bengaluru	₹ 120.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Chennai	₹ 120.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Hyderabad	₹ 120.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Mumbai	₹ 120.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Vizag	₹ 124.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Chandigarh	₹ 150.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Mysore	₹ 170.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Jaipur	₹ 170.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Ahmedabad	₹ 178.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Kolkata	₹ 178.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Indore	₹ 178.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Pune	₹ 178.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Amritsar	₹ 178.0
Alkaline Phosphatase ALP Cost in Coimbatore	₹ 178.0

*Disclaimer: The value varies based on location, time, and your preferred lab partner.

How long does it take to get the results for the Alkaline Phosphatase Test?

You can expect to get the results for the alkaline phosphatase test within 24 to 48 hours after the sample is collected. However, in certain cases, depending on the location, medical advice, and preferred lab partner, it may take longer.

What do abnormal Alkaline Phosphatase test results indicate?

Abnormal results may be due to the following conditions:

Higher-than-normal ALP levels

Biliary obstruction
Bone disease
Eating a fatty meal if you have blood type O or B
Liver disease
Healing fracture
Leukaemia
Bone tumors
Paget disease
Lymphoma
Hepatitis
Rickets
Osteomalacia
Protein deficiency
Hyperparathyroidism
Sarcoidosis

Lower-levels of ALP levels leads to

Wilson disease
Hypophosphatasia
Malnutrition

Many other conditions for which ALP test should be done:

Pancreatitis
Gallstones
Hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Renal cell carcinoma
Multiple endocrine neoplasia
Biliary stricture
Giant cell arteritis

Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor for interpreting the test reports.

Is Alkaline Phosphatase a definitive test?

ALP test results are usually regarded as accurate. There are potential sources of error in the processing and analysis of your blood sample, so laboratories must take care to follow best practices to ensure dependable results.

If your ALP level is high, your doctor may have you take another test, known as the ALP isoenzyme test. This test determines the level of alkaline phosphatase in blood and finds out whether it is coming from the liver or the bones.

How to read the Alkaline Phosphatase report?

Normal range for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) varies from laboratory to laboratory. One common reference range is from 44 to 147 international units per litre (IU/L), but some organizations recommend a range of 30 to 120 IU/L.

High levels of ALP are also seen in growing children and pregnant women and are considered normal.

Low levels of ALP are seen in patients with malnutrition and certain genetic disorders. ALP levels also decrease temporarily after heart surgery and blood transfusion.

Normal values may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory. The normal range of values of ALP differs by age and pregnancy status. ALP values are higher in children because their bones are actively growing, while the ALP values increase during pregnancy in tandem with the development of the placenta and the approach of childbirth.

	By U/L	By μkat/L
Adults	33 to 96 U/L	0.55 to 1.6 μkat/L
Children	Under 350 U/L	Under 5.8 μkat/L
Pregnancy (first trimester)	17 to 88 U/L	0.28 to 1.47 μkat/L
Pregnancy (second trimester)	25 to 126 U/L	0.42 to 2.1 μkat/L
Pregnancy (third trimester)	38 to 229 U/L	0.63 to 3.8 μkat/L

Book an alkaline phosphatase to check your alkaline phosphatase test level!

Why book Alkaline Phosphatase Test?

Health care providers will ask you for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test for monitoring, screening, and diagnosing if you have any liver or biliary diseases or bone disorders.
ALP test is usually a part of a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) and liver panel test. It is performed to keep track of your health to see if the health is getting better or getting worse.
To detect any liver diseases such as jaundice, swelling, nausea and/or vomiting, unexplained weight loss, edema, abdominal pain, urine is dark color and changes in stool color to light.
An ALP test can also help diagnose the cause of more general symptoms, such as fatigue.

Alkaline Phosphatase Test at home – how does it work?

The alkaline phosphatase test is just like any other blood test. A lab technician visits your home when you book your tests through the MFine app. The lab technician first cleans the arm and then inserts a syringe into a vein. The required amount of blood is then taken into a vial. The lab technician then removes the needle and places cotton wool or a bandage over the prick.

Are there any risks involved with the Alkaline Phosphatase Test?

ALP tests are common and a very important part of routine testing and screening. There is not much of a risk of having this test. There might be a slight injury in the vicinity where the blood was drawn for the test. But it subsides faster.

What can affect the results for the ALP test?

Eating before the test may slightly increase your ALP levels for a few hours. Levels can change from person to person. In the case of pregnant women, the levels of ALP are usually higher than the normal range. Mostly in young children, the levels of ALP are higher because it is a growing phase. And sometimes due to intake of certain drugs, like contraceptive pills, it lowers your ALP levels and some drugs can increase the ALP levels.

Book an alkaline phosphatase test to check your alkaline phosphatase level!

Our Trusted Lab Partners for Alkaline Phosphatase Test

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₹150

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Frequently Asked Questions | FAQs

Is the lab technician coming for the alkaline phosphatase test sample collection vaccinated?

Yes. Our lab technicians are fully vaccinated. Further, they also ensure safety throughout by wearing a mask, gloves, and frequently sanitizing themselves during the sample collection.

Does MFine provide the interpretation for the results along with the reports?

Yes, MFine provides the interpretation for the result along with the reports. You can also avail a free medical consultation with a doctor to understand your reports accurately. The doctor will also advise and prescribe medicines, if required, based on the results.

How can I download my alkaline phosphatase test report?

a. Login to MFine
b. Go to your profile
c. Click on Attachment and Reports
d. Click on Lab Report
e. Download the report

Are there any discount offers running on the alkaline phosphatase test?

Usually, you can avail of up to 50% discount on alkaline phosphatase test through MFine. However, the discount and test price may vary based on lab partner and location.

How do I get ready for the alkaline phosphatase test?

The doctor may prescribe 10-12 hours fast before the test. Eating any medicine may interfere with the levels, so it is better to inform the doctor about any kind of medication you are having so that the exact ALP results are obtained.

Is a doctor’s prescription required for the test?

Liver is the main source of alkaline phosphatase; the bones also produce some of it. Whenever a person faces a problem with the liver or a bone disorder, the doctor may prescribe the alkaline phosphatase test.

What conditions increase alkaline phosphatase?

Normal levels of ALP range from (44 to 147) U/L (units per litre) and significantly elevated levels may be an indication of conditions such as various types of cancer, bone diseases such as Paget disease, liver diseases such as hepatitis, blood disorders, or other conditions.

Why is alkaline phosphatase important?

The alkaline phosphatase is an important blood test whose elevated levels can be an indication of liver, bone, or any other disease; its elevation in serum is correlated with bone or liver diseases. Increased ALP levels may also be an indication of obstruction in the bile duct.