Hi Kiran, welcome and thanks for your question. Dr.'s use Alkaline Phosphatase tests to diagnose liver and bone diseases (Paget's, rickets, bone tumors and osteomalacia). I don't believe Dr.'s use this test to formulate a diagnosis of osteoporosis. You should check this with your Dr. to see if this testing criteria has changed.

If you are referring to Bone-Specific Alkaline Phosphatase, Dr.'s will use this to monitor treatment of bone loss/growth while you are taking one of the osteoporosis medications, and they may be able to give you some information on the existence of osteoporosis. Because bone density scans are performed every 1-2 years, this test is good for evaluation of your response to these drugs in between DXA scans.  To find out the degree of bone loss you have, you'd need to have a DXA scan, which will give you a T-score.

Dr.'s also use this test to do a baseline score prior to starting a bone medication. This test will tell the clinician what your initial score is and once you start treatment, if the drug is working and the degree of bone turnover you are experiencing.

Here are two articles on these tests, both formation and resorption markers, from Dr. Gonter and myself that should help to explain it's use further.

If you've already had the test, then the lab should have given you a score that is compared to normal for your age, sex, and if applicable menopause status, and your Dr. should explain your results and what they mean.

If you have another question about these tests or I misunderstood which test you had don't hesitate to post again.

Good luck with this and I hope you obtain the information you are looking for from your Dr.