Chemistry

Methodology

Enzymatic colorimetric assay

Patient Preparation

None

Preferred Specimen

1.0 mL serum (0.5 mL minimum) collected in serum separator tube (SST / Tiger Top)

Alternate Specimen

None

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

• Low: <28 U/L
• Normal: 28 – 100 U/L
• High: >100 U/L

Amylases are made in the pancreas and salivary glands and catalyze the hydrolytic degradation of starch to sugars by cleaving 1,4 α glucosidic bonds resulting in disaccharides and trisaccharides which are converted by other enzymes to glucose to supply the body with energy. Amylases can be found in serum, saliva, tears, sweat, human milk, amniotic fluid, the lungs, the testes and the epithelium of the fallopian tube.

In clinical practice, α amylase determinations are of considerable importance in pancreatic diagnostics. They are mainly used in the diagnosis and monitoring of acute pancreatitis with elevated values being diagnostic. Pancreatitis may be due to obstruction of the pancreatic duct by gallstones in the ampulla of Vater, by excess alcohol intake, by marked hypertriglyceridemia (fasting value >1,000 mg/dL), and/or by abdominal trauma causing damage to the pancreas. Elevated serum amylase levels do not only occur with acute pancreatitis or in the inflammatory phase of chronic pancreatitis, but also in renal failure (reduced glomerular filtration), tumors of the lungs or ovaries, pulmonary inflammation, diseases of the salivary gland, diabetic ketoacidosis, cerebral trauma, and with surgical interventions. High values may also be seen with perforated peptic ulcer, torsion of an ovarian cyst, strangulation, ileus, mesenteric ischemia, and mumps.