Amylase is a protein-based enzyme that aids in the body's breakdown of carbohydrates. The salivary glands in your mouth and the pancreas both produce amylase. Your blood and urine usually contain a modest quantity of amylase. However, excessive levels may be a sign of a health issue.

Amylase is responsible for converting starches, polysaccharides, and complex carbs into more easily absorbed simple sugars:
 

• The primary stage in the chemical digestion of food is amylase from our saliva. This is one of the main reasons why people should take their time eating and chew their meals carefully.
• This initial phase in the digestive process is critical for the appropriate breakdown of food ingested and the final release of nutrients within the digestive tract to be absorbed later in the digestive process.
• Additional amylase produced from the pancreas into the proximal small intestine breaks down starches, polysaccharides, and complex carbohydrates as they pass through the digestive tract.

The amylase test, also known as the Amy test, serum amylase test, or urine amylase test, is a medical test that determines the amount of amylase in the blood and urine.


Why is an Amylase Test Performed?

Amylase tests in blood or urine are mostly used to diagnose pancreas issues, such as pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. It is also used to track chronic (ongoing) pancreatitis. Amylase levels rise and fall in blood before they rise and fall in urine, hence an amylase urine test can be performed before or after an amylase blood test. One or both types of amylase tests may also be used to aid in the diagnosis or monitoring of other ailments that may alter amylase levels, such as salivary gland problems and certain digestive conditions.


Who Needs an Amylase Test?


In almost all circumstances, your doctor will request an amylase test along with a lipase test. Lipase is a molecule produced by your pancreas to aid in the digestion of fats. These tests, when combined, can inform your doctor if you have a pancreas condition, such as pancreatitis, which implies your pancreas is inflamed. If they suspect you have salivary gland illness or a blockage in the duct that transports digestive enzymes to your small intestine, they may also prescribe an amylase test. This obstruction could be caused by pancreatic cancer, gallstones, or a constriction of the duct or sphincter that connects the pancreatic duct to the intestine.


The amylase test is also used to monitor patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). This is a lung infection-causing illness. It can also impair your body's ability to absorb nutrients from the diet. High amylase levels in people with cystic fibrosis can indicate that thick mucus plugs are preventing digestive enzymes from passing from the pancreas to the small intestine.

If you have signs of a pancreatic problem, your doctor may request an amylase blood and/or urine test. Symptoms can appear quickly or gradually and include:

Upper abdominal pain that may migrate to your back or worsen after eating:
 

• Appetite loss
• Vomiting and nausea
• Fever
• Rapid heartbeat
• Jaundice
• Soiled, foul-smelling stool

Your doctor may also request an amylase test to monitor an existing pancreas issue, such as:
 

• Long lasting Pancreatitis
• Cancer of the pancreas
• Eating problems
• Cystic fibrosis (CF)
• Addiction to alcohol
• Regaining from gallstone removal a gallbladder attack

Amylase Test Preparation
 

• You should not consume alcohol for at least 24 hours before the amylase blood or urine test.
• If you are scheduled for a blood test, your provider may additionally instruct you to fast (not eat or drink) for two hours before the test.
• Your provider will let you know if any special instructions need to be followed.

How is an Amylase Test Performed?


A medical expert will use a tiny needle to draw blood from a vein in your arm for an amylase blood test. Following the insertion of the needle, a tiny amount of blood will be gathered in a test tube or vial. When the needle enters or exits, you can experience a slight sting. Normally, this takes less than five minutes. You must provide a urine sample for the test to determine your amylase levels. A medical specialist might provide you with a cleansing cloth, a little container, and instructions on how to take a urine sample using the "clean catch" technique.


The specialist will make you sit comfortably at first so that you do not shake off suddenly as a result of the prick. A tight band will be placed around the upper arm to direct blood flow to the lower arm. The expert will then look behind your elbow for any visible or prominent veins. To clean the area where the blood will be drawn, a cotton swab dipped in spirit is employed. Finally, a needle is put into the vein, and a syringe full of blood is pulled out and kept in a test tube labelled with your name. This blood specimen is then sent to a lab for examination.


Amylase Test Results & Interpretation
 

The results of your amylase blood test should be available in 2 to 4 days.
 

The normal amylase level in blood should be between 30 and 110 units per litre (U/L). Any variation from the typical range is potentially hazardous to your pancreas.


High levels of amylase in the blood or urine may indicate:
 

• Acute (rapid) pancreatitis
• An obstruction in a pancreatic duct (small tube).
• Cancer of the pancreas or a benign (non-cancerous) tumour.

Amylase levels in the peritoneal fluid may be elevated as a result of:

• Acute Pancreatitis
• An intestinal blockage
• Inadequate blood flow to the intestines

Low levels of amylase in the blood or urine are uncommon, but they may indicate:
 

• Chronic pancreatitis wreaks havoc on the cells that produce amylase.
• Kidney failure
• Cystic fibrosis (CF)
• The disease of the Liver
• Pre-eclampsia (a kind of elevated blood pressure in pregnancy)

Is There Any Risk in the Amylase Test?

A blood test poses relatively minimal risk. During a blood test, you may have some pain or bruising at the site where the needle was inserted, although most symptoms subside quickly. A urine test poses no known risk. After a peritoneal fluid test, you may feel dizzy or lightheaded. There is a minor danger that the needle will cause bleeding or infection in your bowel or bladder.