Amylase - blood

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Amylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is produced mainly in the pancreas and the glands that make saliva. When the pancreas is diseased or inflamed, amylase releases into the blood.

A test can be done to measure the level of this enzyme in your blood.

Amylase may also be measured with a urine test. See amylase - urine.

Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and an elastic band or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm. This causes veins below the band to swell with blood.

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A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the band is removed to restore blood flow. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

In infants or young children, the area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.

No special preparation is needed. However, you should avoid alcohol before the test. The health care provider may advise you to stop taking drugs that may affect the test. NEVER stop taking any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Drugs that can increase amylase measurements include:

• Asparaginase
• Aspirin
• Birth control pills
• Cholinergic medications
• Corticosteroids
• Indomethacin
• Loop and thiazide diuretics
• Methyldopa
• Opiates (codeine, morphine)
• Pentazocine

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

This test is most often used to diagnose or monitor diseases of the pancreas. It may also detect some digestive tract problems.

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• Chronic pancreatitis
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Pancreatic pseudocyst

Review Date: 01/28/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).