ALP (alkaline phosphatase) isoenzyme

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Blood test

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
• Multiple punctures to locate veins

This test is about 80% accurate for identifying specific locations of cancers or disease. It should not be relied on for a screening test because sometimes levels are high for unknown reasons and return to normal. Unless there is evidence of a disease, higher-than-normal values of alkaline phosphatase in the Chem-20 test are not considered significant.

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

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.