Formal Name
Amylase
This article was last reviewed on
This article waslast modified on 15 February 2021.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?

To diagnose pancreatitis or other pancreatic diseases

When To Get Tested?

If you have symptoms of a pancreatic disorder, such as severe abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite or nausea

Sample Required?

A blood sample taken from a vein in the arm. Very rarely a urine sample may be required.

Test Preparation Needed?

No test preparation is needed

On average it takes 7 working days for the blood test results to come back from the hospital, depending on the exact tests requested. Some specialist test results may take longer, if samples have to be sent to a reference (specialist) laboratory. The X-ray & scan results may take longer. If you are registered to use the online services of your local practice, you may be able to access your results online. Your GP practice will be able to provide specific details.

If the doctor wants to see you about the result(s), you will be offered an appointment. If you are concerned about your test results, you will need to arrange an appointment with your doctor so that all relevant information including age, ethnicity, health history, signs and symptoms, laboratory and other procedures (radiology, endoscopy, etc.), can be considered.

Lab Tests Online-UK is an educational website designed to provide patients and carers with information on laboratory tests used in medical care. We are not a laboratory and are unable to comment on an individual's health and treatment.

Reference ranges are dependent on many factors, including patient age, sex, sample population, and test method, and numeric test results can have different meanings in different laboratories.

For these reasons, you will not find reference ranges for the majority of tests described on this web site. The lab report containing your test results should include the relevant reference range for your test(s). Please consult your doctor or the laboratory that performed the test(s) to obtain the reference range if you do not have the lab report.

For more information on reference ranges, please read Reference Ranges and What They Mean.

What is being tested?

Amylase is an enzyme made mainly by the pancreas. It is released from the pancreas into the digestive tract to help digest starch in our food. It is usually present in the blood in small quantities. When cells in the pancreas are injured or if the pancreatic duct is blocked (by a gallstone or rarely by a tumour) increased amounts of amylase find their way into the bloodstream.

Accordion Title
Common Questions
  • How is it used?

    The blood test for amylase is used to diagnose acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and other pancreatic diseases. The swift rise of amylase at the beginning of a pancreatitis attack, and its fall after about 2 days, helps to pinpoint this diagnosis. Amylase is sometimes, although rarely, used in the diagnosis and follow-up of cancer of the pancreas, gallbladder disease and mumps.

  • When is it requested?

    An amylase test may be requested if you show symptoms of a pancreatic disorder, such as severe abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, or nausea. Urine amylase may be requested with or following a blood amylase test. One or both may also be requested when a doctor wants to monitor a patient to find out whether treatment is working and whether amylase levels are increasing or decreasing.

  • What does the test result mean?

    In pancreatitis which is a severe inflammation of the pancreas, amylase concentrations are usually very high, often 5-10 times normal. However, the degree of elevation does not correlate with the severity of pancreatitis. Increased amylase concentrations may also indicate cancer of the pancreas, acute appendicitis, gallbladder disease, a perforated ulcer, obstruction of the intestinal tract, mumps or ectopic pregnancy. Increased blood amylase with normal or low urine amylase may indicate decreased kidney function or the presence of macroamylase, when amylase is attached to other proteins and accumulates in blood. A high amylase result due to macroamylase is not an indicator of disease. Some people tend to have higher amylase levels than others; this includes people of African or Asian descent. Having slightly high results does not necessarily mean there is underlying disease.

  • Is there anything else I should know?

    In acute pancreatitis, elevated amylase concentrations usually parallel levels of another enzyme called lipase. Either amylase or lipase can be requested in order to help diagnose acute pancreatitis, but amylase is the most frequently used test.
    Chronic (long-term) pancreatitis is often associated with alcoholism. It may also be caused by trauma to the pancreas or associated with genetic abnormalities such as cystic fibrosis. Amylase concentrations may be moderately elevated with chronic pancreatitis or may be decreased when the cells that produce amylase in the pancreas become damaged or destroyed.

  • What are the treatment options for pancreatitis?

    Treatment depends upon the symptoms. If they are absent or mild, there may be no treatment; if they are more severe, your doctor may suggest 'resting the pancreas' using a range of options, from not eating solid foods to fasting combined with intravenous (IV) fluid replacement for several days to a few weeks (usually requiring admission into hospital). This use of medicines and surgery may also be considered for patients with severe symptoms. Sometimes you may need pain management medicines. Nutritional support, such as low-fat diets and frequent small meals, may help relieve symptoms. Oral pancreatic enzyme replacement is another possible option.

  • Can medications that I am taking affect the amylase result?

    Yes. Some drugs that may cause amylase to rise include aspirin, diuretics, oral contraceptives, steroids such as corticosteroids, indomethacin, and opiates.

  • How does amylase work?

    Amylase is an enzyme found in plants and animals. It is found both in saliva and pancreatic fluids in the small intestine, where it digests a variety of sugars and starches. When the pancreas is diseased or inflamed, amylase escapes into the blood.