Amylase is an enzyme, or special protein, produced by your pancreas and salivary glands. The pancreas is an organ located behind your stomach. It creates various enzymes that help break down food in your intestines. The pancreas can sometimes become damaged or inflamed, which causes it to produce too much or too little amylase. An abnormal amount of amylase in your body may be a sign of a pancreatic disorder. An amylase blood test can determine whether you have a disease of the pancreas by measuring the amount of amylase in your body. You may have a disorder affecting the pancreas if your levels of amylase are too low or too high.
Diagnosis:
An amylase blood test is used to diagnose or monitor problems with your pancreas. Your doctor may order an amylase test if you have symptoms of a pancreatic disorder. A healthcare professional may also order an amylase test to monitor an existing condition, including trusted Sources:
Amylase is typically measured by testing a sample of your blood. In some cases, a urine sample may also be used to determine the amount of amylase in your body.
An amylase blood test is usually done if your doctor suspects pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas. Amylase levels can also rise due to other pancreatic disorders, such as:
It’s important to avoid drinking alcohol before the test. You should also tell your doctor about any medications you may be taking. Certain drugs can affect your test results. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking a particular medication or to change the dose temporarily.
Some medications that can affect the amount of amylase in your blood include:
thiazide diuretics, such as chlorothiazide, indapamide, and metolazone
Procedure
The procedure involves taking a sample of blood through a vein, usually in your arm. This processonly takes a few minutes:
A healthcare professional will apply an antiseptic to the area where your blood will be drawn.
They will tie an elastic band around your upper arm to increase the amount of blood flow to the veins, causing them to swell. This makes it easier to find a vein.
Then, the professional will insert a needle into your vein. After the vein is punctured, the blood will flow through the needle into a small tube that’s attached to it. You may feel a slight prick when the needle goes in, but the test itself isn’t painful.
Once enough blood is collected, the professional will remove the needle and apply a sterile bandage over the puncture site.
The collected blood is then sent to a lab for testing.
At SOUTH PUNJAB LAB this test is performed on ROCHE SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
What do the results mean?
Abnormal results can happen for a number of reasons. The underlying cause depends on whether the level of amylase in your blood is too high or too low.
Sometimes, a blood amylase test may be used alongside another test, called a lipase test, to detect pancreatic diseases. Amylase tests are sensitive to pancreatic diseases but not specific, so lipase tests can be used to help a healthcare professional diagnose or rule out pancreatitis or other conditions.
