Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Alkaline Phosphatase
Alkaline Phosphatase
Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin
| Test | Alkaline Phosphatase |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | ALP |
| Profile | Bone, Liver Function Test |
| Tube type | Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin |
| Clinical Indication | Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is present in almost all body tissues, located at or in cell membranes. It occurs at particularly high levels in interstitial epithelium, kidney tubules, bone (osteoblasts), liver and placenta. Increases in total ALP are either due to physiological causes or are caused by diseases of the liver or bone. Physiological increases are found in pregnancy, in growing children and post prandially in individuals with blood groups B and O. |
| Specimen Type | Blood |
| Sample type | Serum |
| Minimum Volume | 0.5mL If requesting more than 10 tests please send an additional brown clotted serum sample. |
| Special Precautions | No special requirements |
| Stability | 7 days at 2-25°C |
| Turnaround Time | Urgent: 2 hours Inpatient: 4 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours |
| Laboratory | York and Scarborough |
| Reference Interval | Neonates up to 14 days of age: 70-380 IU/L Children >14 days of age: 60-425 IU/L Adults >17 years of age: 30-130 IU/L Pregnant women: 122-386 IU/L |
| Limitations | Severe haemolysis, icterus or lipaemia may interfere with measurement and prevent an ALP value from being reported. |
| Notes |
