Amylase Test

An amylase test measures the amount of amylase in your blood or urine (pee). Amylase is an enzyme, a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in your body. Amylase helps you digest carbohydrates.

Most of the amylase in your body is made by your pancreas and salivary (spit) glands. 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.

Why this test is done

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. They may include:

• Pain in your upper abdomen (belly) that may spread to your back, get worse after eating, or last for several days
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Fast heartbeat
• Jaundice (a condition that causes your skin and eyes to turn yellow)
• Greasy, foul-smelling stool (poop)

Your provider may also order an amylase test to monitor an existing condition that affects your pancreas, including:

• Chronic pancreatitis
• Pancreatic cancer
• Eating disorders
• Cystic fibrosis
• Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Recovery after having gallstones removed because of a gallbladder attack

How to prepare

You should not drink alcohol for 24 hours before having an amylase blood or urine test. If you are having a blood test, your provider may also tell you to fast (not eat or drink) for two hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.

Be sure to tell your provider about any prescription or over-the-counter medicines you are taking because they may affect your test results. But don't stop taking any medicines unless your provider tells you to.

Sample type

Blood Urine

Other names for this test

Amy test, serum amylase, urine amylase