Home → Tests → ALP
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) Test
⚠️ Update approaching🔬 Evidence: ModerateInternal Medicine
Diğer adları: Alkaline phosphatase, Alk phos, ALP test
⚠️
Discuss your test results with your doctor. This page is for informational purposes only and does not provide a diagnosis.
⚡ Key Facts
• An enzyme found primarily in liver and bone, also in other tissues
• Cannot distinguish liver from bone origin on its own
• GGT helps confirm liver origin when ALP is elevated
• Normally elevated in children and adolescents due to bone growth
🧪 What Does This Test Measure?
The ALP test measures alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme found primarily in the liver and bone, used to evaluate cholestatic liver disease and bone disorders.
📋 Why Is It Ordered?
Ordered for liver function evaluation, cholestatic disease investigation, bone disease assessment, and monitoring of bone-active conditions.
🔧 Preparation
No special preparation is generally required. Intestinal ALP may rise after a fatty meal.
📊 Reference Ranges
Adults: 44–147 U/L
Children and adolescents: significantly higher due to bone growth
⚠️ Reference ranges vary by age and laboratory.
⬆️ High Values
Elevated ALP may be associated with liver disease (cholestasis, bile duct obstruction), bone disease (Paget's, fractures), or physiological elevation in pregnancy and growth.
⬇️ Low Values
Low ALP is rare. It may be associated with hypothyroidism, zinc deficiency, severe anemia, or hypophosphatasia.
⚙️ What Can Affect Results?
Age, pregnancy, diet, bone turnover rate, liver function, medications, and blood type may affect ALP results.
🔬 Evidence Summary
Moderate evidence: 2 guidelines.
📚 Most Important Studies on This Topic
1
ACG Clinical Guideline: Evaluation of Abnormal Liver Chemistries
Guideline· American Journal of Gastroenterology · 2017 · PMID: 27995906
2
EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on non-invasive tests for evaluation of liver disease severity and prognosis - 2021 update
Guideline· Journal of Hepatology · 2021 · PMID: 34166721
✅ Key Takeaways
💡
What you learned: ALP elevation may originate from the liver or bone. GGT is used to help determine the source.
⛔
An ALP result alone cannot identify the source of elevation. GGT, other liver tests, and clinical context are needed.
🔬 Sources Used on This Page
2 sources · Most recent publication: 2021📋
Guideline
Expert society and guideline recommendations
2
sources
Overall assessment: Evidence level for this topic is moderate. This page is supported by 2 guidelines.
📝 Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Be prepared for your appointment. Add questions to your list.
📋 References
[PMID: 34166721] EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on non-invasive tests for evaluation of liver disease severity and prognosis - 2021 update. Journal of Hepatology, 2021.
[PMID: 27995906] ACG Clinical Guideline: Evaluation of Abnormal Liver Chemistries. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2017.
Last reviewed: 4/1/2026
Next review: 4/1/2027
⚖️ Comparisons
🔗 Related Topics
⚖️ This page does not replace medical advice. Make treatment decisions with your doctor.
Content is based on scientific studies indexed in PubMed and current clinical guidelines.
Content is based on scientific studies indexed in PubMed and current clinical guidelines.