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Lipase

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Lipase

COMMON RANGE

13 – 60

U/L

85.4

Mayo Clinic Laboratories

Adult

↗

See all sources ↓

Reference ranges across 10+ sources

Adult reference ranges from 5 entries across 4 named sources, shown in U/L. Compare side-by-side.

SOURCE

SEX

AGE

RANGE

VISUAL

CITE

Mayo Clinic Laboratories

All

≥18y

13 – 60 U/L

↗

Labcorp

Male

≥18y

13 – 78 U/L

↗

Labcorp

Female

≥18y

14 – 72 U/L

↗

Quest Diagnostics

All

≥18y

7 – 60 U/L

↗

RCPA / AACB Australasian Harmonised Reference Intervals

All

≥18y

10 – 60 U/L

↗

Mayo Clinic Laboratories

All · ≥18y

↗

13 – 60 U/L

Labcorp

Male · ≥18y

↗

13 – 78 U/L

Labcorp

Female · ≥18y

↗

14 – 72 U/L

Quest Diagnostics

All · ≥18y

↗

7 – 60 U/L

RCPA / AACB Australasian Harmonised Reference Intervals

All · ≥18y

↗

10 – 60 U/L

Ages 0–17 (CALIPER)

PEDIATRIC

1 age- and sex-stratified entries from the Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals.

SOURCE

SEX

AGE

RANGE

VISUAL

CITE

CALIPER — Canadian Pediatric Reference Intervals

All

0–19y

4 – 39 U/L

↗

CALIPER — Canadian Pediatric Reference Intervals

All · 0–19y

↗

4 – 39 U/L

About Lipase

A lipase test measures the level of lipase in your blood. Lipase helps your body digest fats. It's a type of digestive enzyme. An enzyme is a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions in your body. Most of your lipase is made in your pancreas, an organ located behind the lower part of your stomach. Lipase is also made in your salivary (spit) glands and in your stomach.

It's normal to have a small amount of lipase in your blood. But if the cells of your pancreas are damaged, they will release larger amounts of lipase. So, high levels of lipase in your blood may mean you have pancreatitis (an inflamed, swollen pancreas) or another type of pancreatic disease. A lipase test can help diagnose these conditions and others.

Main source: MedlinePlus ↗

Useful for

Help confirm a diagnosis of pancreatitis, especially acute (sudden) pancreatitis

Check to see if treatment for pancreatic diseases is working

Help diagnose and monitor chronic diseases that affect the pancreas, including cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease, and celiac disease

Help diagnose injury or blockage of the intestines

Help diagnose peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the abdominal wall)

Help diagnose pancreatic cysts

Main source: MedlinePlus ↗

Interpretation

A very high level of lipase is usually a sign of acute pancreatitis. In pancreatitis, lipase typically rises within about 4 to 8 hours of symptoms and can stay high for 7 to 10 days, longer than amylase, which is why lipase is often the more useful test.

How high your lipase goes does not always match how severe the pancreatitis is, and lipase coming back to normal doesn't always mean the problem has fully resolved.

Higher than normal levels of lipase may also be caused by other conditions affecting the pancreas or digestive tract.

Low levels of lipase may be a sign of permanent damage to cells in your pancreas that make lipase. This may happen in certain chronic (long-lasting) diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis.

If your lipase levels are not normal, it doesn't always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Many medicines, including codeine, diuretics ("water pills"), certain cholesterol medicines, and birth control pills can affect your lipase levels.

For general wellness information only. Talk to a clinician about your specific results.

Main source: MedlinePlus ↗

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Related biomarkers

Often tested alongside lipase or part of the same panel.

Lead (Pb)

Other

Mercury (Hg)

Other

Arsenic (As)

Other

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

Other

CA-125

Other

CA 19-9

Other

Sources

Mayo Clinic Laboratories

Labcorp

Quest Diagnostics

RCPA / AACB Australasian Harmonised Reference Intervals

CALIPER — Canadian Pediatric Reference Intervals

Last updated 2026-05-02

This page aggregates publicly available reference data and clinical information from Mayo Clinic Laboratories and other sources. For general wellness information only — not medical advice. For diagnosis or treatment of any condition, talk to a qualified clinician.

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