Newcastle Laboratories

Amylase, fluid

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 tw...

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.

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Test Details

  • Discipline:

    Biochemistry

    Biochemistry

  • Specimen Container Adult:

    Plain universal container

    Plain universal container

  • Specimen Container Paediatric:

    Plain universal container

    Plain universal container

  • Minimum Volume Adult:

    1 mL fluid

    1 mL fluid

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    1 mL fluid

    1 mL fluid

  • Special Requirement:

    Samples which are too viscous and/or contain particulate matter after centrifugation are unsuitable for analysis.

    Samples which are too viscous and/or contain particulate matter after centrifugation are unsuitable for analysis.

  • Sample Stability:

    Unknown

    Unknown

  • Quality Assurance:

    Serum Amylase in WEQAS Mainline Chemistry

    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.

    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.

  • Routine Contact Name:

    Duty Biochemist

  • Routine Telephone:

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889
    RVI: 0191 282 9719

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889
    RVI: 0191 282 9719

  • Routine Email:

Availability:

Available during full access hours
Assayed as service demands
Site of analysis: Freeman and RVI

Turn Around:

Batched assay, analysed twice per day

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