Amylase and Lipase Tests Health Article

Preparation

No special preparation is necessary for a person undergoing an amylase or lipase test. Urinary amylase is frequently measured using a timed urine sample. The patient should be given a urine container with instructions for collecting the urine at home. The urine should be refrigerated until it is brought to the laboratory.

Aftercare

Discomfort or bruising may occur at the puncture site, or the person may feel dizzy or faint. To reduce bruising, pressure should be applied to the puncture site until the bleeding stops. Applying warm packs to the puncture site relieves discomfort.

Complications

Amylase and lipase tests are not associated with complications.

Results

The normal range will vary depending upon the method used. Results shown below are representative of the methods described above performed at 37 degrees C.

• Plasma amylase: 70-200 U/L.
• Plasma lipase: 7-58 U/L.
• Urine amylase: Less than 1200 U/L.
• Amylase creatinine clearance ratio: 1-4%.

Health care team roles

A physician orders and interprets tests for amylase and lipase. A nurse or phlebotomist usually collects blood for amylase and lipase tests by venipuncture. A nurse educates the patient on the proper collection and storage of a urine sample, and may also take a drug history to identify medications which might interfere with the testing. Drug interference is usually caused by inducing the release of the enzyme from an organ or tissue. Amylase and lipase tests are performed by a clinical laboratory scientist, CLS(NCA)/medical technologist, MT(ASCP) or clinical laboratory technician, CLT(NCA) or medical laboratory technician, MLT(ASCP).

KEY TERMS

Amylase—A digestive enzyme made primarily by the pancreas and salivary glands.

Enzyme—A substance made and used by the body to speed up specific chemical reactions which might otherwise not happen, or might happen only slowly.

Lipase—A digestive enzyme made primarily by the pancreas.

Pancreatitis—Inflammation of the pancreas.

BOOKS

Braunwald, Eugene et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 15th ed. New York:McGraw-Hill, 2001. pp. 1788-1791.

Fischbach, Frances. A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. Lippincott, 2000. pp. 436-438.

Lehman, Craig A. Saunders Manual of Clinical Laboratory Science. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 1998.

Pagana, Kathleen D., and Timothy J. Pagana. Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests St. Louis: Mosby, 1998.

OTHER

Medline Plus. Encyclopedia. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001144.htm>.

Erika J. Norris