ALP (alkaline phosphatase) isoenzyme

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Blood test

The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age and previous experience. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics:

• Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• Schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

This test is useful in diagnosing:

• Liver disease (jaundice-yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• The cause of liver disease
• Parathyroid disease
• Vitamin D deficiency
• The cause of pain in the upper abdomen
• Bone diseases

It can also be used to monitor:

• Patients on medications that may be harmful to the liver
• Liver production (used in conjunction with other tests)

Review Date: 05/17/2005
Reviewed By: Vishal Datta, M.D., Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.