Know your ALP. Know your health.
Test your Alkaline Phosphatase and 100+ other biomarkers in a single blood draw.
Normal range: 44 – 147 U/L (lower is better)
ALP is an enzyme produced by the liver, bile ducts, and bone. A blood test for ALP helps detect problems with bile flow from the liver or increased bone turnover. Because it comes from two different sources, an elevated reading requires context: your doctor will look at other liver and bone markers to figure out which organ is driving the change.
A normal ALP is 44 – 147 U/L. Lower is better.
Elevated ALP from the liver usually indicates bile duct obstruction, whether from gallstones, tumors, or drug-induced cholestasis. Elevated ALP from bone indicates increased bone turnover: Paget's disease, healing fractures, vitamin D deficiency, or hyperparathyroidism.
Pregnancy (from placental ALP) and adolescent growth spurts (from bone growth) are normal, harmless causes of elevation. Very low ALP can occur in hypothyroidism, zinc deficiency, or a rare genetic condition called hypophosphatasia.
Several medications can raise ALP, including certain antibiotics, anti-seizure drugs, and some cholesterol medications. Getting enough vitamin D and calcium supports healthy bone metabolism and may help keep bone-derived ALP in range. If elevated ALP is from the liver, reducing alcohol and managing any underlying liver conditions are the priority.
ALP is most highly correlated with High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein and ALT. Here are the top biomarkers correlated with ALP, based on 500,000 tests done by Empirical Health.
The percentage shows how strongly two biomarkers move together. A higher number means the relationship is stronger. Green = rises and falls together. Orange = one rises as the other falls.
You can test your ALP for $190 as part of Empirical's comprehensive health panel, which includes 100 biomarkers.
You can measure your ALP for at 2,200+ testing locations across the US. Click below and enter your zip code to browse locations near you.
Test your Alkaline Phosphatase and 100+ other biomarkers in a single blood draw.