Quick answer
The Serum Amylase Test costs ₹350 at Live Line Health Care. Measures a digestive enzyme made by the pancreas and salivary glands. No fasting is needed. It uses a blood sample and the report is usually ready the same day. Book home sample collection or visit any of our 45 centres.
Also known as: Amylase, S. Amylase, Sr Amylase, Blood Amylase, Amylase Enzyme, Pancreatic Amylase
What is the Amylase Test?
The Serum Amylase test measures amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch during digestion. It is made by the pancreas and the salivary glands. When the pancreas is inflamed, or a salivary gland is swollen, more amylase spills into the blood and the reading on your report goes up.
Serum amylase has been used for decades in the assessment of acute pancreatitis, yet it has limits. It starts rising within about 6 to 12 hours of the attack and often returns to normal within 3 to 5 days, so it can be missed if you reach a doctor late. It can also rise with kidney failure, mumps, a blocked or perforated bowel, or ectopic pregnancy. Serum lipase is more specific to the pancreas and stays raised for longer, so many doctors now prefer it for pancreatitis and use amylase when lipase is unavailable or when salivary gland disease is the question. Severe upper abdominal pain should be seen in a hospital emergency department, not managed with a booked test.
What it measures: The activity of amylase, a starch-digesting enzyme from the pancreas and salivary glands, in the blood.
Parameters included (1)
- Serum Amylase
Why is this test done?
- Helping to assess suspected pancreatitis, along with lipase and abdominal scans
- Looking into swelling of the salivary glands, such as in mumps
- Following a known pancreas problem when your doctor advises it
- Investigating repeated upper abdominal pain in people with gallstones or heavy alcohol use
- Explaining a persistently raised amylase from an earlier report
When should you get tested?
- Upper abdominal pain spreading to the back with vomiting (go to emergency care if severe)
- Swollen, painful cheeks or jaw glands
- Abdominal pain after fatty meals or alcohol
- Gallstones or a past pancreatitis attack
- Repeated upper abdominal pain with nausea
How to prepare for the Amylase Test
- 1Fasting is not usually needed for amylase.
- 2Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the sample.
- 3List your medicines, since steroids, some water tablets and strong painkillers can affect pancreas enzymes, and take them as prescribed.
- 4If you have severe abdominal pain or repeated vomiting, go to a hospital instead of waiting for a home visit.
Amylase Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| Serum amylase (adults) | 30–110 U/L |
| Level that supports acute pancreatitis | At least 3 times the upper limit, with typical pain |
Reference limits differ between methods, so a value must be judged against the upper limit on your own report. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- Amylase at least three times the upper limit, together with typical pain, supports acute pancreatitis. Doctors usually confirm this with lipase and sometimes a scan.
- The height of the result does not show how severe the attack is. A normal value does not exclude pancreatitis either, especially when you are seen late or the attack is linked to alcohol or very high triglycerides.
- Milder rises have many other causes, including kidney disease, salivary gland swelling, bowel problems, ectopic pregnancy and diabetic ketoacidosis.
- A long-lasting mild rise in a well person can be macroamylasaemia, a harmless condition in which amylase binds to a blood protein and clears slowly.
Amylase Test – FAQs
What is the price of the Amylase Test?
The Serum Amylase Test costs ₹350 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
What is the difference between amylase and lipase?
Both are digestive enzymes, but amylase digests starch and lipase digests fat. Amylase also comes from salivary glands, whereas lipase comes mainly from the pancreas. Amylase rises early and falls within days, while lipase stays raised for longer. For suspected pancreatitis, lipase is generally the more reliable of the two.
Can amylase be high without pancreatitis?
Yes. Mumps and other salivary gland problems, kidney failure, bowel obstruction or perforation, ectopic pregnancy, diabetic ketoacidosis and some medicines can all raise amylase. Doctors therefore look for levels at least three times the upper limit, alongside typical pain and often lipase or scan results.
Why is my amylase normal if I had pancreatitis?
Amylase falls quickly, often within three to five days, so a late sample can be normal. It can also stay normal in alcohol-related attacks and in pancreatitis caused by very high triglycerides. A normal value therefore does not rule out pancreatitis if your symptoms fit, and your doctor may rely on lipase or imaging.
Does mumps raise serum amylase?
Yes. Mumps inflames the salivary glands, which are a major source of amylase, so blood levels usually rise while lipase stays normal. This pattern helps separate salivary disease from pancreatic disease. Mumps is usually diagnosed by its typical jaw swelling, so the test is only needed in unclear cases.
When should I go to hospital for abdominal pain?
Go to an emergency department for severe upper abdominal pain, pain spreading to the back, repeated vomiting, fever, fainting or a swollen, tender abdomen. Acute pancreatitis can become serious quickly and needs hospital care, scans and fluids. A booked enzyme test should not delay being seen by a doctor.
Where can I get the Amylase Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore, or book home sample collection.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.