Newcastle Laboratories

Amylase, serum

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:

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

  • Specimen Container Paediatric:

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

    Serum (SST or plain tube)

  • Minimum Volume Adult:

    1 mL blood

    1 mL blood

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    0.5 mL blood

    0.5 mL blood

  • Sample Stability:

    Unseparated: 4 days

    Separated:
    at +15° to +25°C 7 days
    at +2° to +8°C 1 month

    Unseparated: 4 days

    Separated:
    at +15° to +25°C 7 days
    at +2° to +8°C 1 month

  • Reference Ranges:

    0 - 100 U/L

    0 - 100 U/L

  • Other Info:

    lithium heparin plasma sample also acceptable

    lithium heparin plasma sample also acceptable

  • 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:

24/7, analysed at RVI and Freeman

Turn Around:

Urgent sample: within 1 hour

Non-urgent sample: within 4 hours

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