Contents:
- Medical Video: Chemistry of Beer - Unit 4 - Chemical Concepts: Alpha Amylase and Beta Amylase
- What should I know before undergoing alpha-amylase?
Medical Video: Chemistry of Beer - Unit 4 - Chemical Concepts: Alpha Amylase and Beta Amylase
Definition
What is alpha-amylase?
Amylase tests are used to measure the amount of amylase enzymes in blood samples (taken from veins) or urine samples.
Under normal conditions, amylase levels in the blood or urine tend to be low. However, if the pancreas or salivary gland is damaged, the amount of amylase in the blood and urine will increase. Increased levels of amylase in the blood only last a short time. While in the urine, an increase in amylase levels can last for several days.
When should I take alpha-amylase?
This test is most often used to diagnose or monitor acute pancreatitis, and detect some digestive tract problems.
The diseases commonly tested by this test are:
- chronic pancreatitis
- pancreatic pseudocyst
Prevention & warning
What should I know before undergoing alpha-amylase?
In the body with pancreatitis, high levels of amylase in the urine will usually last several days (longer) than the level of amylase in the blood. When born, babies have little or no amylase at all. At the end of the first year, the infant amylase level is the same as the amylase level in adults. Lipase is an enzyme that is only produced by the pancreas. Lipase tests and amylase tests can be done simultaneously when the patient is suspected of having pancreatitis. In some cases, tests comparing urine amylase with creatinine (waste discharged by the kidneys) can be done to diagnose pancreatitis.
Process
What should I do before undergoing alpha-amylase?
You are prohibited from consuming alcohol for 24 hours before the test. For an amylase test in the blood, you must fast for several hours but are allowed to drink mineral water.
Amylase test in urine is carried out for 24 hours. Therefore, you must consume enough fluids to prevent dehydration. Especially for women who are menstruating, urine tests cannot be done and must be rescheduled. Be sure to tell the doctor about the medicines being consumed.
What is the process of alpha-amylase?
Amylase tests in the blood involve taking blood samples in general. While the amylase test in urine requires a slightly different process. The period for collecting urine test samples is divided into 24 hours and 2 hours. In a 24-hour period, the patient must record the time of first urination, as well as recording the last urination time (towards the end of this period). All urine during this period must be accommodated. Every urination, the patient must collect urine in a small container then pour it into a large container provided by the medical center. When pouring urine samples, try not to touch the inside of the container. This large container must be stored in the refrigerator. Collection of urine samples in a period of 2 hours also involves the same procedure. The difference lies only in the time period of collection.
What should I do after undergoing alpha-amylase?
After taking the test, you can go back home and move as usual. Test results will usually come out in 72 hours. The doctor will explain the results of this test to you.
Explanation of Test Results
What do the test results mean?
The normal range for the amylase test may vary depending on the laboratory you choose. The range written here is an illustration of the acceptable range. The doctor will examine the results of the test taking into account the patient's health conditions and various factors that can affect the test results. Discuss with your doctor if there are questions about your test results.
Normal
| Amylase in blood | |
| Adult (age ≤ 60 years): | 25-125 units per liter (U / L) or 0.4-2.1 microkatals / liter (mckat / L) |
| Adults (> 60 years old): | 24-151 U / L or 0.4-2.5 mckat / L |
| Amylase in urine | |
| Urine sample (2 hour period): | 2–34 U or 16–283 nanokats / hour |
| Urine sample (24 hours) | 24–408 U or 400–6,800 nanokats / day |
| Aminase / Cleansing Ratio Creatinine (creatinine clearance) | |
| Normal: | 1% –4% or 0.01–0.04 fraction clearance |
Abnormal
Possible causes of high levels of amylase include:
- inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), pancreatic cysts, or pancreatic cancer
- inflammation of the salivary glands, such as goiter
- intestinal blockage, or severe damage to the intestine (intestinal disorders or narrowing of the intestine)
- gastric ulcer which causes a hollow abdominal wall
- gallstones that cause pancreatitis
- diabetic ketoacidosis
- ruptured ectopic pregnancy
- kidney failure
- appendicitis or peritonitis
- macroamylasemia, a general and harmless condition in which amylase is bound to proteins in the blood
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
