Amylase
Alpha-Amylase Test
Results
An amylase test measures the amount of this enzyme in a sample of blood taken from a vein or in a sample of urine. Many conditions can change amylase levels. Your doctor will discuss any significant abnormal results with you in relation to your symptoms and past health.
Results are normally available within 72 hours. Normal values vary widely from lab to lab.
Normal
Amylase Blood sample: 25–125 units per liter (U/L) or 0.4–2.1 microkats/liter (mckat/L)
2-hour urine sample: 2–34 U or 16–283 mckat/hour
24-hour urine sample: 24–408 U or 400–6,800 mckat/day
High values
Values may be high because of:
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) or cancer of the pancreas.
- Inflammation of the salivary glands, such as mumps.
- Blockage of or severe damage to the intestines (bowel infarction).
- A stomach ulcer that has caused a hole in the stomach wall.
- Gallstones that are causing pancreatitis.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Pregnancy and diabetic ketoacidosis.
- A ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
- Macroamylasemia, an uncommon and harmless condition in which amylase is bound to a protein in the blood. This condition can cause amylase levels to be either high or low.
Low values
Values may be low because of an uncommon and harmless condition called macroamylasemia, severe liver disease, pregnancy, preeclampsia, or advanced cystic fibrosis.
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| Author: | Bets Davis, MFA | Last Updated: April 29, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology | |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Test Overview | |
| Why It Is Done | |
| How To Prepare | |
| How It Is Done | |
| How It Feels | |
| Risks | |
 | Results |
| What Affects the Test | |
| What To Think About | |
| References | |
| Credits | |