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:
Plain universal container
Specimen container adult:
Plain universal container
Minimum volume paediatric:
1 mL fluid
Minimum volume adult:
1 mL fluid
Special requirements:
Samples which are too viscous and/or contain particulate matter after centrifugation are unsuitable for analysis.
Sample stability:
Unknown
Availability:
Available during full access hours
Assayed as service demands
Site of analysis: Freeman and RVI
Quality assurance:
Serum Amylase in WEQAS Mainline Chemistry
Interpretation:
A fluid amylase greater than the upper limit of normal for serum or a pleural fluid/serum ratio >1 suggests an effusion of pancreatic origin.