title: Reference interval of serum heat-stable alkaline phosphatase activity in pregnant women in Zaria.
abstract: The study was designed to establish a reference interval for serum heat-stable ALP activity in pregnancy, which is not available in this environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred (100) apparently healthy pregnant women in their third (3rd) trimester who were attending the antenatal clinic (ANC) of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria were recruited for the study. The serum heat-stable ALP activity was measured using the 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (4-NPP) method introduced in 1946 by Bessey, Lowry and Brock.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reference interval for the serum heat-stable ALP activity was found to be 24-161 IU/L. This was similar to some earlier reports elsewhere.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding will help in the evaluation/diagnosis of patients with placental insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Aliyu
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Isah
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Afonja
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase