Amylase (Pancreatic Isoenzyme)

It's normal to have a small amount of amylase in your blood and urine. But having too much amylase may be a sign of a disorder of the pancreas or salivary glands or another medical condition.

Because regular amylase tests pick up amylase from both the pancreas and the salivary glands, providers sometimes order a test that measures only the pancreatic form (pancreatic isoenzyme). This more focused measurement can be more sensitive for catching pancreas problems such as acute pancreatitis. In acute pancreatitis, amylase typically starts to rise within hours of symptoms beginning, stays elevated for a few days, and returns to normal within about a week.

Your health care provider may order an amylase blood and/or urine test if you have symptoms of a pancreatic disorder. Symptoms may begin suddenly or slowly.

High or low levels of amylase in blood or urine, or high levels in peritoneal fluid, may be a sign of a problem with your pancreas, salivary glands, or other organs.

Because the pancreatic isoenzyme test focuses on amylase from the pancreas, a high result is more specific for a pancreatic problem than a regular total amylase test.

To learn more about your results, talk with your provider.