Amylase Test

An amylase test is most often used to diagnose

• Acute pancreatitis (sudden inflammation of the pancreas)
• Chronic pancreatitis (progressive and continuing inflammation of the pancreas)
• Pancreatic pseudocyst
• Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
• Peptic ulcers
• Appendicitis
• Gallbladder stones
• Blockage of pancreatic duct
• Cystic fibrosis (a genetic condition where passages of the lungs and digestive system are blocked by thick mucus)

This test can also be advised when a person experiences the following signs and symptoms:

• Fever
• Unexplained loss of appetite
• Severe upper abdominal pain, which radiates to the back and aggravates on eating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eye)
• Rapid pulse rate
• Steatorrhoea (loose, fatty and foul-smelling stools)

Inform your doctor about your current medication or supplements if you are on any. The doctor can advise you to stop certain medications that can alter test results, e.g., birth control pills, asparaginase, cholinergic medicines, aspirin, thiazide diuretics, and opiates such as codeine.

Do not eat or drink anything for about two hours prior to the test. Do not exercise, smoke or drink alcohol before the test.

It is a simple test in which a  blood sample will be drawn from the vein in your arm. Your healthcare provider will clean the needle injection site with alcohol and insert a needle through the skin into the vein, to withdraw a blood sample. The sample is then sent to a lab for testing. Once the needle is taken out the injection site should be pressed firmly, and a cotton ball or a gauze pad should be placed over the area to stop bleeding and prevent infection. 

Results of an amylase test can vary depending upon the age, gender, method used and health history of the person. Your doctor will provide the correct interpretation of results.

Normal results: Blood Amylase levels within the range of 30-110 units per litre (U/L)are considered to be normal.

Abnormal results: Amylase levels can be higher in the following conditions:

• Sudden inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Cancers of the pancreas, breast, colon, ovary or lung
• Pancreatic sore
• Pancreatic pseudocysts (cyst(s) in the pancreas)
• Ascites (swelling in the abdomen)
• Macroamylasemia (a noncancerous benign condition in which there is presence of macroamylase in your blood)
• Peptic ulcer (perforated ulcer)
• Intestinal infarction (death of intestinal tissues)
• Blockage in the intestines
• Appendicitis
• Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
• Acute cholecystitis (sudden swelling of the gallbladder)
• Swelling in the salivary glands
• Peritonitis (swelling of the lining of your abdomen)
• Burns
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Kidney problems
• Morphine usage
• Postoperative effect
• Alcohol use
• Infection of the salivary glands (mumps)
• Prostate tumour
• Eating disorders (bulimia or anorexia nervosa)
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Higher levels of triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia)

Low amylase levels can be due to the following reasons:

• Pancreatic cancer
• Damage to the pancreas
• Kidney disease
• Toxaemia of pregnancy
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Liver failure
• Cystic fibrosis

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.