Clinical background:
Amylase is the enzyme concerned with the breakdown of dietary starch and glycogen to maltose. It is present in pancreatic juice, saliva and in the liver, fallopian tubes and muscle. It exists as two isoenzymes: pancreatic (P-type) and non-pancreatic (S-type). Amylase is primarily used in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.
Specimen container paediatric:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Specimen container adult:
Serum (SST or plain tube)
Minimum volume paediatric:
0.5 mL blood
Minimum volume adult:
1 mL blood
Sample stability:
Unseparated: 4 days
Separated:
at +15° to +25°C 7 days
at +2° to +8°C 1 month
Reference ranges:
0 – 100 U/L
Other info:
lithium heparin plasma sample also acceptable