Will I Need To Do Anything To Prepare For The Test
Preparations for an alkaline phosphatase test depend on the lab doing the test. Some labs require you to fast for 6 to 12 hours before the test. Also, the ALP test is usually ordered with other blood tests. You usually need to fast for several hours before these tests. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
Who Should Take The Alkaline Phosphatase Blood Test
Assess liver damage and your risk from liver disease using a home finger-prick blood test kit.
You get the convenience of home testing with the reassurance of professional clinical analysis. Your results are delivered quickly & securely online.
This Liver Function Test is advised if you:
- are anorexic or bulimic or suffer from another eating disorder
- are taking medications that cause toxic liver disease, which includes too much paracetamol, ibuprofen & aspirin
- drink alcohol regularly or are a binge drinker
- have family history of liver disease
- have had gallstones
Take a complete health check-up with Vitall.
Alk Blood Test Results Explained
The ALK blood test, which is more commonly known as the ALP or the alkaline phosphatase blood test, is ordered by medical professionals to help detect bone disorders or liver disease. When there is something that affects bone growth or causes bone cells to have an increased level of activity, then there will be an increased level of alkaline phosphatase that can be detected in the blood.
When liver cells are damaged, increased levels of alkaline phosphatase can be detected because it is tends to be higher along the edges of cells that join together to form bile ducts. If a bile duct then becomes blocked for some reason, then blood levels of alkaline phosphatase are higher.
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What Does The Test Measure
This test measures ALP, which is a type of enzyme. The typical measurement for this test is international units per liter , a standardized measurement utilized by most laboratories based on the biological activity of ALP.
ALPs exact function in the body is not fully understood, but researchers believe it to be important to multiple processes. The enzyme can be found in the liver, bones, placenta of pregnant women, intestine, kidneys, and other body parts. Abnormal levels in the blood can reflect damage to tissue or disruption of normal processes in the body.
Another type of ALP testing is an ALP isoenzyme or ALP fractionation test. In this test, specific subtypes of ALP are measured. These subtypes indicate where in the body the ALP was produced. While this testing can be beneficial, it is technically challenging and much less common than general ALP testing.
How Is The Test Administered
Your blood may be drawn in your doctors office or a nearby clinic or laboratory. A nurse or phlebotomist will insert a small needle into one of your veins, likely located in your arm. They will use the needle to draw a small amount of blood into a vial.
It should only take a few minutes for them to draw your blood. Afterward, they will likely ask you to put pressure on the injection site or apply a bandage to stop the bleeding. Then they will send your sample of blood to a laboratory for testing.
A laboratory technician will smear your blood onto a microscope slide. They will add a special staining agent, which helps them to see which white blood cells contain alkaline phosphatase. They will use a microscope to count the proportion of cells that contain alkaline phosphatase.
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What Do The Alk Blood Test Results Mean
Results for this blood test are generally communicated as being high, normal, or low. When there are high levels of alkaline phosphatase present, then this generally means that the liver has been damaged in some way or that something has caused an increase in bone cell activity.
When a full liver panel has been taken, the additional results will be used with this specific test to begin determining a diagnosis. This may include the AST blood test, the ALT blood test, and tests for bilirubins. If these additional liver tests are also high, then the result will likely be an issue with the liver. If the results or low or normal, then the high ALK blood test will typically be coming from increased bone cell activity.
Some results might be communicated as moderately high by some laboratories. This could occur because of a simple bacterial infection, ulcerative colitis, congestive heart failure, or Hodgkins lymphoma.
If the results of the ALK blood test are normal, then additional testing may be required to determine the cause of the bothersome signs and symptoms that are being experienced. Most people, when given a liver panel during a regular health checkup, will have test results that fall into this category.
What Does It Mean If My Alkaline Phosphatase Is High
Its important to note that elevated levels of ALP can range in severity. While a very high ALP level often means you have liver damage or a bone disorder, mildly elevated levels can be caused by many different factors not necessarily a medical condition that needs treatment. If you only have a mild elevation in your ALP levels, your healthcare provider will likely not have you undergo extensive evaluation. Instead, theyll likely monitor your levels over time to make sure they dont get worse.
High alkaline phosphatase levels may indicate that theres damage to your liver or that you have a type of bone disorder. Liver damage creates a different type of ALP than bone disorders do. If your test results reveal that you have high ALP levels, your provider may have you undergo additional tests, such as an ALP isoenzyme test, to determine where the excess ALP is coming from.
High alkaline phosphatase levels in the liver may indicate the following conditions:
High bone alkaline phosphatase levels may indicate the following conditions:
A high level of ALP may also be a sign of untreated celiac disease.
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Low Alkaline Phosphatase What Causes This Deficiency And How To Restore Balance
At some point in our lives, most of us have gone to the doctors office, had blood drawn for lab testing, and anxiously awaited the results. One of these common lab tests evaluates the levels of a compound known as alkaline phosphatase.
Today were going to explore exactly what role alkaline phosphatase plays in our bodies, what it means if your levels are too low, and most importantly exactly what you can do to help restore your alkaline phosphatase levels back to normal. Lets dive in.
How Soon After Treatment Will I Feel Better
Treatment for Wilson disease is lifelong. The timeline for when youll feel better depends on the severity of your symptoms, but your symptoms could reduce significantly after four to six months of treatment followed by regular maintenance treatment. Wilson disease requires regular testing by your healthcare provider to understand if the treatment is successful and they will adjust your medicine dosage to meet your bodys needs.
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Whats The Difference Between A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel And A Basic Metabolic Panel
A basic metabolic panel includes eight of the 14 tests in a comprehensive metabolic panel . A BMP doesnt include the liver enzyme and protein tests. Your healthcare provider may have you undergo a CMP or a BMP depending on your health history and needs. Both panels are considered routine blood tests.
Low Alkaline Phosphatase In Adult Population An Indicator Of Zinc And Magnesium Deficiency
Chinmaya Sundar Ray1, Bratati Singh2*, Itishri Jena1, Sudeshna Behera1, Subhashree Ray1
1Dept of ENT, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha, India2Dept of Biochemistry, IMS and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, Pin-751003.
Corresponding Author Email:
Final Approval by: Dr. Amalia Tsiami
Article Metrics
Abstract:
Alkaline Phosphatase enzyme activity is usually measured as a part of liver function test to detect increases in its activity. Less attention has been put to know the conditions associated with decreases in its activity. Micronutrients like Zinc and Magnesium are important causes of low ALP activity. Our Objective is to find out Zn and Mg deficiencies as important cause of decrease in ALP activity and to initiate supplementation of these minerals. The study was done to assess Zn and Mg deficiency in 42 persons having low ALP activity and 45 healthy controls. Correlation between minerals and ALP activities were also carried out. It was found that 52.38% of cases are Mg deficient and 47.62% cases are Zn deficient. A significant decrease in Zn and Mg was observed in low ALP cases when compared with control . Significant positive correlation was found between the minerals and ALP. Serum Zn and Mg are essential for human body and by screening their deficiency, supplementation of minerals can be initiated.
Keywords:
Alkaline Phosphatase Magnesium Minerals Zinc
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results and Discussion
| Controls |
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Keep Your Gut Happy And Healthy
Even if you dont have an underlying inflammatory bowel condition, if your gut is inflamed and not running on all cylinders it can hinder your ability to properly absorb nutrients. So giving your tummy the support it needs to function properly is important. Heres what I suggest:
- Incorporate a daily probiotic to regularly reinoculate your gut with friendly beneficial bacteria.
- Add in some gut-healing supplements like Collagen Boost and Gut Immune to bolster the integrity of your gut lining and enhance nutrient absorption.
- Get plenty of fiber to ensure youre having regular bowel movements.
Equally as important as keeping your gut healthy, is ensuring you have plenty of nutrients to correct any imbalances.
What Do The Results Of The Test Mean
When your test results are available, your doctor will discuss them with you. They will help you understand what the results mean and discuss follow-up steps. Scores for the LAP test can range from zero to 400, with those between 20 and 100 being considered normal.
A score thats higher than normal may be caused by:
- leukemoid reaction
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What Does It Mean If Your Alkaline Phosphatase Result Is Too High
High levels of ALP can be caused by liver diseases, including: hepatitis, cirrhosis, blockage of the bile ducts, gallstones, liver cancer, or cancer that has spread to the liver from another part of the body.
High ALP may also indicate bone diseases such as: Pagets disease, osteomalacia, vitamin D deficiency, rickets, bone tumors, or tumors that have spread to the bones from another part of the body. Cardiovascular problems such as heart failure or heart attack are also known to increase ALP levels.
Women going through menopause typically have a higher ALP level than women who still have menstrual cycles, and children are known to have high ALP levels due to rapid bone growth. In addition, pregnant women usually show higher ALP levels.
Interpret Your Lab Results
Why Do I Need An Alkaline Phosphatase Blood Test
Your provider may order an alkaline phosphatase blood test to help screen for, monitor or help diagnose liver and biliary diseases, bone disorders and other health conditions.
Screening means checking for potential health issues before you experience symptoms. An ALP test is often included in a comprehensive metabolic panel and liver panel. Healthcare providers often use these panels as part of a routine check-up to screen for a wide range of potential health problems.
If you have a liver or bone condition or another type of condition, your provider may order an ALP test, often as part of a panel, to monitor your condition to see if its improving, worsening or staying the same with or without treatment.
Your provider may use an ALP test for diagnostic purposes when you have signs of possible liver or bone problems. An ALP test can also help diagnose the cause of more general symptoms, such as fatigue, when its included in a liver panel or CMP. While providers cant diagnose a condition based solely on ALP levels, it can be an important part of the diagnostic process. The degree to which the ALP level is elevated or lower than usual may indicate the type or severity of a condition.
Signs and symptoms of liver disease include:
- Jaundice a condition that causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow.
- Abdominal pain and/or swelling, especially on your right side.
- Bruising easily.
- Increased frequency of bone fractures.
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What Is An Alkaline Phosphatase Blood Test
An alkaline phosphatase test measures the amount of ALP in your blood. Although ALP exists throughout your body, the two main sources of ALP in your blood are your liver and bones. High levels of ALP may indicate liver disease or certain bone disorders, but an ALP test alone cannot diagnose a condition.
There are two main types of alkaline phosphatase blood tests: a general ALP and an ALP isoenzyme test.
A general ALP test is usually included in a blood test known as a comprehensive metabolic panel and a liver panel .
Whereas an ALP test just measures the level of ALP in your blood, an ALP isoenzyme test can differentiate between types of alkaline phosphatase based on where they originated in your body.
Your healthcare provider may have you undergo an ALP isoenzyme test as a follow-up if you had an abnormal ALP level on a previous test. While an isoenzyme test can provide more detailed information, its more technically challenging and expensive, and some laboratories may not offer it.
Who Performs A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
A healthcare provider called a phlebotomist usually performs blood draws, including those for a comprehensive metabolic panel , but any healthcare provider trained in drawing blood can perform this task. A provider then sends the sample to the lab where a medical laboratory scientist prepares the samples and performs the tests on machines known as analyzers.
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Why Do I Need An Alp Test
An ALP test is usually included as part of a liver function test or bone profile. You may have this test as part of a routine health screen or because your doctor would like to investigate your liver or bone health.
An abnormal ALP result can point to a variety of conditions, from damaged liver cells to gallstones, bone disease, or even vitamin D deficiency. Additional examinations, blood tests, or scans may be required to make sense of the results.
The easiest way to check your ALP is with our at-home Liver Blood Test.
What Is The Normal Range For Alkaline Phosphatase
The normal range for alkaline phosphatase varies from laboratory to laboratory. One common reference range is from 44 to 147 international units per liter , but some organizations recommend a range of 30 to 120 IU/L. Because of this, its important to check your test result report to see what your specific labs reference range is.
Its also important to note that normal alkaline phosphatase levels vary with age and sex. ALP levels are typically elevated during childhood and puberty due to bone growth and development. Between the ages of 15 to 50 years, ALP levels are slightly higher in males than females. ALP levels then rise again in old age.
ALP levels may also be higher in pregnant people since ALP exists in the placenta and in people who are healing from a bone fracture .
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What Do I Need To Do To Get Ready For The Test
Your doctor may tell you not to eat or drink anything for 6 to 12 hours before the test. You may be asked to stop certain medications before the test. Follow your doctors orders carefully. Your test results could be incorrect if you dont.
Certain drugs may affect ALP-2 levels. These include:
Its important to tell your doctor about all the medicines youre taking. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
How Long Does It Take For Alkaline Phosphatase Levels To Return To Normal
Depending on the severity of the cause, ALP levels will decrease over time after successful treatment. It will usually take at least a week because that is the time it takes for the body to clear up ALP from the blood. Such is the case of patients with an acute bile duct obstruction due to gallstones or acute infections.
People with chronic conditions may need more time before a significant recovery. In these cases, ALP decreases more slowly and may persist slightly above the upper limit.
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Who Is More Likely To Develop Hodgkin Lymphoma
Certain factors can make you more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma:
- Age. Hodgkin lymphoma is most common in early adulthood and in late adulthood .
- Being male. The risk of adult Hodgkin lymphoma is slightly higher in males than in females.
- Past Epstein-Barr virus infection. Having an infection with EBV as a young child or teenager increases your risk of Hodgkin lymphoma.
- A family history of Hodgkin lymphoma. Having a parent or sibling with Hodgkin lymphoma increases your risk of developing it.
When Is The Alk Blood Test Ordered
This blood test is often ordered as part of a patients regular health checkup. It is included in the series of tests that are taken for a liver panel. It may also be ordered on its own when someone is suffering from the signs or symptoms of liver disease or a bone disorder.
Those signs and symptoms which may trigger the ALK blood test being ordered may include a general feeling of weakness or fatigue, a lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and swelling in the abdomen. Specific liver issues, such as a yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine, light-colored stools, and systemic itching may also be present.
Some may also experience bone pain, joint pain, a medical history of increased fractures, or bone deformations.
Only a qualified medical professional can determine if the ALK blood test should be ordered and be able to interpret what the results of the test mean with a patients individual medical history.
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