Amylase Pancreatic

An amylase blood test measures the amount of pancreatic amylase in a person's blood. Pancreatic α-amylase is synthesized by pancreatic acinar cells and secreted into the duodenum as a major component of pancreatic fluid.

The normal range for adults for amylase in a blood sample is 30 to 110 units per liter (U/L). Normal amylase levels vary from person to person and according to the testing methods of the lab.

A high amylase level in the blood may indicate the presence of a condition affecting the pancreas. In acute pancreatitis, amylase in the blood often increases to 4 to 6 times higher than the highest reference value, sometimes called the upper limit of normal (> 200 U/L).

Pancreatitis -is an inflammation of the pancreas, can cause amylase and lipase levels to be increased up to 3 times normal. Both values should be increased, in order to carry the diagnosis of pancreatitis. Meanwhile, pancreatitis is often misdiagnosed as cholecystitis or intestinal blockage since both these conditions cause abdominal pain as well as elevated amylase levels. To complicate matters even further, some patients with pancreatitis may not have elevated amylase.

So, other blood tests may be also used to help diagnose or detect complications of acute pancreatitis. These tests may include: Complete blood count (including white blood cell count to diagnose infection) and Triglycerides.

Lipase may also be increased in tumors of the pancreas, or stomach certain stomach conditions.