Specimen Requirements

Title

Amylase

Specimen Requirement

1 SST/1.0 mL serum. After 30 minutes of clotting, promptly centrifuge and refrigerate serum.

Methodology

Stability

Room Temp: 7 days; Refrigerated; 1 month

Reference Range

By report

Turnaround

1 day

Clinical Use

a-Amylase is found primarily in the pancreas and salivary glands. Amylase activity in serum tends to increase rapidly after an attack of pancreatitis and may be demonstrated as early as six to eight hours after its onset. Levels stay elevated for one to three days and then return rapidly to normal, reflecting the efficient renal clearance of the enzyme.

Test Code

AMY