INTENDED USE

Diagnostic reagent for quantitative in vitro determination of ALP in human serum or plasma. 

Human ALP consists of a group of enzymes which hydrolyse phosphates at an alkaline pH.

ALP is found in practically all tissues of the body but in high concentrations in the osteoblasts

of bone, liver, placenta, kidney, intestinal wall and lactating mammary glands. In adults the

ALP normally found circulating in the serum is largely derived from the liver. In children or

in adolescents going through pubertal growth spurts, there is an additional contribution from

bone and this accounts for the higher reference interval for these groups. Pregnancy also

raises the normal values of ALP.

Raised ALP levels are often observed in bone disease or liver disease involving the biliarytract. If the source of the isoenzyme is not apparent then estimation of GGT may help differentiate between the two. A raised GGT in the presence of a raised ALP would suggest theliver is the primary source.Increased ALP (usually normal GGT) is seen in Osteomalacia and Rickets, primary hyperparathyroidism with bone involvement, Pagets disease, secondary carcinoma in bone and somecases of osteogenic sarcoma. Increased levels of ALP (usually with a raised GGT) is seen incholestasis, hepatitis, cirrhosis, space occupying lesions and malignancy with bone or liverinvolvement or direct production. Low levels of ALP may be observed in conditions which cause arrested bone growth or in hypophosphatasia