What does the Alpha-Amylase test measure?

Why is Alpha-Amylase measured?

Serum amylase is a long-established marker of pancreatic acinar injury, rising within 6–12 hours of the onset of acute pancreatitis. Because total amylase includes salivary and other non-pancreatic sources and normalises quickly, it is less specific and has a narrower diagnostic window than lipase; current guidelines favour lipase as the first-line enzyme. Amylase retains value where lipase is unavailable, for corroboration alongside lipase, and in evaluating salivary gland disorders and macroamylasaemia.

Reference ranges

Standard reference

30–110 U/L (0.50–1.85 µkat/L)

Functional medicine optimal

Within the mid-reference interval; amylase has no established functional-medicine optimal range distinct from the laboratory reference interval.

Units

U/L, µkat/L

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.