Hospital visiting guidelines updated 20 July 2022: Hospital visitors must wear a surgical/medical paper mask. Fabric face coverings are no longer acceptable. See our COVID-19 pages for detailed information about hospital visiting guidelines, COVID-19 tests and care in the community advice. See www.vaccinatecanterburywestcoast.nz for information about vaccinations.
We are at ORANGE according to the NZ COVID-19 Protection Framework
Last updated:
9th April 2022
Kia whakahaumaru te whānau, me ngā iwi katoa – this is to keep everybody safe:
By sticking to the rules above, you help keep our patients, staff, other visitors and yourself safe. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as our staff work hard to protect and care for some of the most vulnerable in our community.
Exceptions to the ‘one visitor’ policy
Visiting patients with COVID-19
You must NOT visit the hospital if you
Exceptions for people with disabilities
An exception will be made for people with disabilities who are in hospital or have to attend an outpatient appointment – where they need a support person to access health services. For example, a sign language interpreter, support person for someone with a learning disability, or someone to assist with mobility. The support person is in addition to the one permitted visitor.
Everyone visiting our facilities must wear a mask, no exceptions
While we appreciate that some people have legitimate reasons for being exempt from wearing a mask and may even have an official card to confirm this, people who cannot or will not wear a mask cannot visit someone in hospital or attend hospital, other than to access healthcare. This is another measure to minimise the risk to vulnerable patients.
Patients and visitors should also read the additional more detailed visiting guidelines for each specific hospital.
More COVID-19 information
ALP is an enzyme present in several different tissues, including liver, bone, kidney, intestines and placenta.
Indications for testing
Diagnosing and monitoring treatment of liver, bone, intestinal, and parathyroid diseases.
ALP is a constituent of the liver function tests (LFTs) panel
Core Biochemistry
ALP
Alkaline Phosphatase
3 hours
3527
4.5
1
Paediatric Specimen - Heparin microtainer tube 600 µL
0.1
Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)
This enzyme is present in bone, liver, and placenta. This assay does not differentiate the source. To determine the source of a raised ALP, liver enzymes (GGT) and/or the bone turnover marker (P1NP) may be useful. If the source of a raised ALP is still unclear, ALP isoenzymes can be performed.
Bone – changes occur with age especially during childhood. Increased levels are seen in osteomalacia, rickets, secondary hyperparathyroidism, healing fractures and Paget’s disease.
Bone ALP activity is high in infants, decreases during the second year and remains increased until puberty.
Liver – increased levels are typically associated with cholestatic liver disease and obstructive jaundice, conditions include cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver abscess, tumours, drugs and toxins.
Placenta – ALP rises in the third trimester of pregnancy and may reach 5 times the URL. The placental isoform (Regan) may be secreted by some tumours.
Benign familial hyperphosphatasaemia – this condition may present as a persisting isolated raised ALP presenting at any age. All other liver enzymes are normal with no evidence of increased bone turnover (normal P1NP). Other family members may have a raised ALP. This is an asymptomatic genetic variant.
Transient hyperphosphatasaemia of infancy – an isolated elevated ALP (very high levels – thousands) persisting for a few months. The pathogenesis remains unknown, but may follow a viral infection. Diagnosis may be supported by examination of ALP isoenzymes.
Kinetic colour test for the quantitative determination of alkaline phosphatase performed on Beckman Coulter AU5822 analyser using Beckman Coulter reagents.
$2.91 (Exclusive of GST)
3527