How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture

How to Prepare for the Test

You may be told not to eat or drink anything for 6 hours before the test. Your health care provider will tell you if it's necessary to stop taking any drugs that may interfere with this test. Make sure that your doctor is aware of all drugs you are taking, both prescription and nonprescription.

How the Test Will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is done to diagnose or monitor muscle or liver damage.

Normal Results

A typical reference range is 1.0 to 7.5 units per liter. There are slight differences between men and women.

The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Greater than normal levels of aldolase may be due to:

• Damage to skeletal muscles
• Dermatomyositis
• Hepatitis
• Infectious mononucleosis
• Liver, pancreatic, or prostate cancer
• Muscular dystrophy
• Myocardial infarction
• Polymyositis

Risks

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling lightheaded
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

Considerations

The following tests are more specific indicators of muscle and liver damage:

• ALT test
• AST test
• CPK test

References

Brancaccio P, et al. Biochemical markers of muscular damage. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48(6):757-67.

Chinnery PF. Muscle diseases. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 229.

Updated: 4/17/2012

Reviewed by: Ariel D. Teitel, MD, MBA, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine and David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.