OVERVIEW:
What is an amylase fluid lab test?
An amylase fluid lab test is done to measure the amount of amylase in a person’s blood or urine. Amylase is an enzyme that aids in the digestion of food.
Why is an amylase fluid lab test done?
An amylase fluid lab test is done in order to:
- Diagnose and monitor any problem of the pancreas,
- Diagnose pancreatitis,
- Monitor people that are being given treatment for pancreatic disorders,
- Diagnose salivary gland disorders.
What does an amylase fluid lab test measure?
An amylase fluid lab test measures the amount of amylase present in a person’s blood or urine. Amylase is an important enzyme for the digestion of carbohydrates. Amylase is normally present in a small amount in a person’s blood or urine but a higher than the normal amount of amylase in fluids indicates pancreatic disease or injury.
Are there any risks associated with this test?
There are no known risks associated with this test.
What does it mean if your amylase is high?
An elevated level of amylase is a sign of acute or chronic pancreatitis. Amylase level may also be raised in case of pancreatic cancer.
How long does amylase stay elevated?
In case of acute pancreatitis, amylase level can rise within 3-6 hours after onset of symptoms and remains elevated for up to 5 days.
What medicines increase amylase level?
Certain medicines such as birth control pills, aspirin, asparaginase, cholinergic medicines, and opiates increase the level of amylase.
What is the normal range of amylase in peritoneal fluid?
Non-pancreatic ascites amylase concentration varies between 42 - 44 IU/L,
Ascitic fluid amylase concentration varies between 0.44 - 0.33 IU/L.
The normal range of amylase in a person’s blood is 30 U/L to 110 U/L,
The normal range of amylase in a person’s urine is 2.6 IU/h to 21.2 IU/h.
Any value higher than the normal range indicates a disease of the pancreas.
An amylase fluid lab test is done in order to:
- Monitor an eating disorder,
- For monitoring during pregnancy,
- Diagnose and monitor any problem of the pancreas,
- Diagnose pancreatitis,
- Monitor people that are being given treatment for pancreatic disorders,
- Diagnose salivary gland disorders.
