Amylase Test ( Blood & Urine test )

Amylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is made in the pancreas and the glands that make saliva. When the pancreas is diseased or inflamed, amylase releases into the blood.

A test can be done to measure the level of this enzyme in your blood.

Amylase may also be measured with an amylase urine test.

Amy test, serum amylase

A blood sample is taken from a vein.

 

For both a blood test and a urine sample, you should avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the test and for the blood test, you may be instructed not eat or drink anything other than water for two hours before blood is drawn. Certain medications can affect amylase levels, so discuss medications with your doctor before testing is done. DO NOT stop taking any medicines without first talking to your provider.

Asparaginase

Aspirin

Birth control pills

Cholinergic medicines

Ethacrynic acid

Methyldopa

Opiates (codeine, meperidine, and morphine)

Thiazide diuretics

How the Test will Feel

You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted to draw blood. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

This test is most often used to diagnose or monitor problem with pancreas. It may also detect some digestive tract problems. An amylase urine test may be ordered along with or after an amylase blood test. Urine amylase results can help diagnose pancreatic and salivary gland disorders. One or both types of tests may be used to help monitor amylase levels in people who are being treated for pancreatic or other disorders.

Chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatic pseudocyst

The normal range is 40 to 140 units per liter (U/L) or 0.38 to 1.42 microkat/L (�µkat/L).

Increased blood amylase levels may occur due to:

Acute pancreatitis

Cancer of the pancreas, ovaries, or lungs

Cholecystitis

Gallbladder attack caused by disease

Gastroenteritis (severe)

Infection of the salivary glands (such as mumps) or a blockage

Intestinal blockage

Macroamylasemia

Pancreatic or bile duct blockage

Perforated ulcer

Tubal pregnancy (may have burst open)

Decreased amylase levels may occur due to:

Cancer of the pancreas

Damage to the pancreas

Kidney disease

Liver disease

Cystic fibrosis

Your health care provider may order an amylase blood and/or urine test if you have symptoms of a pancreatic disorder. These symptoms include:

Nausea and vomiting

Severe abdominal pain

Loss of appetite

Fever

Your healthcare provider may also order these tests:

Lipase

Tripsinogen

Hematocrit

Liver function tests

Abdominal CT

This is a test that measures the amount of amylase in urine. 

A urine sample is needed. The test may be performed using:

Clean-catch urine test

24-hour urine collection

Normal Results

The normal range is 2.6 to 21.2 international units per hour (IU/h).

An increased amount of amylase in the urine is called amylasuria. 

Acute pancreatitis

Alcohol consumption

Cancer of the pancreas, ovaries, or lungs

Cholecystitis

Ectopic or ruptured tubal pregnancy

Gallbladder disease

Infection of the salivary glands (called sialoadenitis, may be caused by mumps or a blockage)

Intestinal obstruction

Pancreatic duct obstruction

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Perforated ulcer

Damage to the pancreas

Kidney disease

Pancreatic cancer

Toxemia of pregnancy

* Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results.The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.

Source : https://www.ucsfhealth.org/tests/003464.html

https://www.ucsfhealth.org/tests/003607.html

https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/amylase-test/

https://labtestsonline.org/tests/amylase

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=amylase_blood