Here is the best site to learn about any of your
blood lab tests results:
http://www.labtestsonline.org
Here is a link, on the same site, that explains
about Alkaline phosphatase.
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/alp/test.html
The doctor does different testing to check and
see if it is a liver or biliary problem:
1) The liver enzymes (known as the ALT, AST,GGT,
and the Alkaline phosphatase)...these can show if there
is liver cell damage or a problem in the bile ducts.
2) The liver functions tests (known as the Bilirubin, INR,
Albumin, Pt, PTT) which show how well the liver cells
are able to do the functions (over 500 of them) that the
liver does as a whole to keep the body well.
3) The liver viral tests to see if a virus has entered the
body and is using the liver cells to replicate itself.
If you do have a liver problem...you may start to see
spider like veins start to appear on the face, neck,
chest, and shoulder area. When you press on them,
they can blanche and look pale until the veins fill
again with blood after you remove your fingers.
If this is a liver problem...the ALT enzyme is most
specific to the liver as it is made mostly in the liver..
there other ones are found in other areas, also.
The Alkaline Phosphatase is made in the liver...but
is more connected to the Biliary area of the liver.
The liver produces bile, that flow through tube like
structures (known as ducts) to the gallbladder and
then from the gallbladder to the intestines.
These ducts can become blocked by a gallstone,
infection, growth, or can be malformed, or cirrhosed.
Sometimes certain medications, that you may be
on, can also cause a rash or bumps.
It is best to have more testing done to see if your
level returns to the normal range. No one blood
testing is 100% accurate: many things can effect
the results of these tests. Our body chemistry
changes constantly.