Educational information only. At Precursor, blood testing is requested and reviewed by a clinician and considered alongside your history and other markers, not as a stand-alone diagnosis. Testing is performed in NATA-accredited laboratories to ISO 15189 standards.

What is alkaline phosphatase?

Alkaline phosphatase, or ALP, is an enzyme found mainly in the liver and bones, with smaller amounts elsewhere. Because it comes from more than one place, a raised ALP is a signpost rather than a diagnosis, prompting a clinician to work out which source is responsible.

Why it matters

ALP is useful precisely because it bridges two systems. In the liver it rises with bile-duct issues, and in bone it rises with increased bone turnover. Reading it alongside GGT usually reveals which of the two is driving a raised result.

What your results can mean

Higher than optimal

A raised ALP may reflect a liver or bile-duct issue, or increased bone activity. It can also be naturally higher during growth and in pregnancy. GGT and other markers help pinpoint the source.

Within the healthy range

An ALP in range is reassuring for both liver and bone from this particular marker's perspective.

Reference ranges in Australia

ALP is reported in units per litre (U/L), with reference ranges that vary by age and laboratory and are naturally higher in children and adolescents. Read your result against the range on your own report and in context.

Test your liver with Precursor

ALP is most meaningful alongside GGT and the wider panel. At Precursor it is measured as part of Full Advanced Bloods, a single clinician-reviewed blood draw covering your liver, heart, metabolic, hormonal, kidney, thyroid and nutrient markers together, giving you and your clinician a broad baseline to understand and track.