Amylase Serum Test

Amylase Serum Test Overview

An amylase serum test is used to test for the amount of amylase enzyme in your body. The test can be performed as a blood test or an urine test. The amylase enzyme is produced by the pancreas and the salivary glands and its purpose is to help your body break down carbohydrates.

Higher than normal levels of amylase in your blood or urine can indicate health concerns relating to your pancreas. The amylase serum test can help doctors identify the root cause behind your symptoms and help treat them.

When is an Amylase Serum Test Prescribed?

An amylase serum test is prescribed in most cases when patients show symptoms such as jaundic, fever, nausea and vomiting, and fast heartbeat. This serum test is not used as a screening test and is in most cases used to understand the underlying cause behind medical symptoms. Here are some of the conditions that are commonly diagnosed using this test. 

• Cystic fibrosis
• Alcohol use disorder
• Eating disorders
• Pancreatic cancer
• Chronic pancreatitis

Components of An Amylase Serum Test

The normal range of the amylase enzyme in your body ranges between 40 to 140 units per liter (U/L) or 0.38 to 1.42 microkat/L (µkat/L). This normal range can differ slightly between different laboratories. Based on your results if they are higher or lower than the normal range, doctors can diagnose certain health conditions. Here is a list of the concerns associated with abnormal amylase fluid test results. 

• Higher than normal amylase test results indicate pancreatic cancer or non-cancerous pancreatic tumor, acute pancreatitis, pancreatic blockage.
• Lower than normal amylase levels in your body can indicate kidney disease, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, and preeclampsia for pregnant women.

Procedure And Prerequisites

The amylase serum test is performed as a regular blood test with blood being drawn from the veins in your arms. As a prerequisite it is required that patients don’t consume alcohol at least 24 hours before the test. Doctors may also recommend fasting for up to 2 hours before the sample collection process.