Fasting of 8-10 hrs is preferred but not essential.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found in high amounts in bone and liver. Smaller amounts of ALP are found in the placenta of women who are pregnant, and in the intestines. Each of these body parts makes different forms of ALP.

ALP is generally part of a routine laboratory test profiles called liver function tests or bone profile. It is usually requested with several other tests if a patient has symptoms of a liver or bone disorder.