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Test Code AMY Amylase

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Plasma

Preferred Specimen: Li-Heparin Mint Green Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Serum/Red Top, Serum/Gold Top

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

  • Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
  • Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  • Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
  • Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25oC.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
  • Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours.

Reference Values

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

Amylase

All

All

28-100 U/L

Critical Values

Analyte

Unit

Low

High

Age

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CPT Codes

82150

LOINC Codes

1798-8

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

7 days

Refrigerated

1 month

Frozen

Not Acceptable

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

 

Test Components

Amylase
 

Clinical Indications

  • Assist in the assessment of liver synthetic function.
  • Useful in the diagnosis and management of pancreatitis. An aid in the evaluation of pancreatic function.

Methodology

Colorimetric EPS (Ethylidine Protected Subsrate) Method (Roche Diagnostics)

Additional Information

Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other
findings.

 

Amylase results may be elevated in patients with macroamylase. Macroamylase refers to a high molecular weight form of amylase that is present in a patient's serum. Different causes of macro-amylase have been suggested, the most common being amylase complexed with an immunoglobulin. The large size of the macroamylase complex prevents its excretion in the urine. As a result, the serum amylase is usually elevated. This elevated amylase is not diagnostic for pancreatitis. By utilizing serum lipase and urinary amylase, the presence or absence of macroamylase may be determined.

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: 1 hour

Routine Turnaround Time: 4 hours

Testing Schedule: 24/7

Synonyms/Keyword Search

N/A

Last Review Date

8/19/2024