Biomarker education

Alkaline phosphatase: What It Measures & Why People Track It

Also called: ALP, Alk Phos

Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found in liver, bone, and other tissues.

General biomarker education — not personalized medical advice. Learn more

Result on your report

Illustrative

Alkaline phosphatase

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Range: Low – High

LowReference intervalHigh

What it generally measures

ALP activity in blood can come from several tissue sources, so labs and clinicians often interpret it alongside other liver or bone-related results.

Common units on reports: U/L

People often track ALP with other liver panel markers. Age and growth (in younger people) can also influence typical levels.

Changes over time do not by themselves establish a diagnosis. Learn more

Questions to bring

Illustrative

Ask whether this result is being considered in a liver or bone context for you.

Ask how ALP compares with ALT, AST, and bilirubin on the same panel.

Organize your own lab history

Part of Kind Panel education · Lab results guide

Reference range

Alkaline phosphatase reference range

What the range on your report means for this marker.

Panel guide

Related panel guide

Understand the broader panel this marker appears on.

Related biomarker

ALT

ALT is an enzyme often included in liver-related blood panels.