ALP test at home in Dubai

ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase). An enzyme made mainly in the liver, bile ducts and bone, so the blood level reflects bile flow and bone turnover.

Gamma GT, vitamin D and phosphorus. Measured on the same draw, these help tell a liver source from a bone source and add context to a raised result.

ALP is part of the standard liver panel, but it is not only a liver marker. In the liver it rises when bile does not flow freely, for example with gallstones or bile duct problems. In bone it rises when bone is being built or remodelled. That is why ALP is normally higher in teenagers who are still growing, during pregnancy, and while a fracture is healing.

Because of this double source, ALP is always read with Gamma GT. A raised ALP with a raised GGT points to the liver or bile ducts. A raised ALP with a normal GGT points more towards bone. Low vitamin D, which is common in the UAE because so much of life is spent indoors, can affect bone and sometimes raise ALP. The screen measures vitamin D and phosphorus too, which helps explain the result.

• Discomfort under the right ribs, or a history of gallstones
• Itchy skin, pale stools or dark urine (see your own doctor promptly)
• Low vitamin D, or little time in the sun
• Bone aches, or a recent fracture
• A previous raised ALP that was never explained

• Follow the fasting instructions for the full screen: an overnight fast with water only. ALP can rise a little after a fatty meal in some people.
• Tell your consultant if you are pregnant or have had a recent fracture, as both raise ALP.
• Keep a list of medicines and supplements to share at your review.

Reference ranges differ between labs, and a single result is a snapshot. Your consultant reads every value against your history and the rest of the screen, not in isolation.

This test is part of Baseline’s full blood screen: 122 parameters across ten systems from one draw, for AED 850, with results in 48 hours. It is not sold as a single test, because the result means more next to everything else.

• Nurse comes to you. A licensed phlebotomist visits your home or office, 7 days a week, anywhere in the UAE.
• Accredited lab. Samples are processed by a CAP-accredited laboratory (College of American Pathologists), also accredited to ISO 15189, against clinical reference ranges.
• Reviewed with you. Results land in your account in Baseline format, and your consultant walks you through them on video, never a PDF dumped in your inbox.

Your results arrive in the Baseline app, every marker against the lab’s own range, checked by your consultant before you see them. The values above are an example.

See everything the screen covers

Is ALP a liver test or a bone test?

Both. ALP comes mainly from the liver, bile ducts and bone. Gamma GT, measured on the same draw, helps show which source a raised result is coming from.

Can low vitamin D affect ALP?

It can. Long-term low vitamin D affects bone and can raise ALP. Since the screen measures vitamin D too, the two results are read together.

Is a high ALP normal in pregnancy?

Yes. The placenta makes ALP, so levels rise through pregnancy, especially in the later months. Tell your consultant if you are pregnant so the result is read correctly.

Can I book an ALP test on its own?

No. ALP is part of the full 122-parameter screen and comes from the same home draw as every other marker.

Related tests

• Liver function test
• GGT (Gamma GT) test
• Bilirubin test
• Vitamin D test

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you feel unwell, or your symptoms are new or getting worse, speak to a doctor.