Test Overview
A
lipase test measures the amount of this
enzyme in a blood sample. High amounts of lipase may
be found in the blood when the
pancreas is damaged or when the tube leading from the
pancreas (pancreatic duct) to the beginning of the small intestine is
blocked.
Why It Is Done
A lipase test is done to:
- Check for
pancreatitis and other diseases of the
pancreas.
- See if the treatment for pancreatitis is
working.
- Help check for
cystic fibrosis or see if treatment for it is
working.
How To Prepare
Do not eat or drink anything except
water for 8 to 12 hours before having a lipase test.
Talk to your
doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks,
how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the
importance of this test, fill out the
medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).
How It Is Done
Blood test
The health professional taking a sample
of your blood will:
- Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to
stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is
easier to put a needle into the vein.
- Clean the needle site with
alcohol.
- Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick
may be needed.
- Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with
blood.
- Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is
collected.
- Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as
the needle is removed.
- Put pressure to the site and then put on a
bandage.
How It Feels
The blood sample is taken from a vein in
your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight.
You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or
pinch.
Risks
There is very little chance of a problem from
having a blood sample taken from a vein.
- You may get a small bruise at the site. You can
lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several
minutes.
- In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the
blood sample is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. A warm compress can be
used several times a day to treat this.
- Ongoing bleeding can be a
problem for people with bleeding disorders. Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and
other blood-thinning medicines can make bleeding more likely. If you have
bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medicine, tell
your doctor before your blood sample is taken.
Results
Normal
A
lipase test measures the amount of this
enzyme in a blood sample. Results are normally
available within 12 hours.
The normal values listed here—called a reference range—are just a guide. These ranges vary from lab to lab, and your lab may have a different range for what’s normal. Your lab report should contain the range your lab uses. Also, your doctor will evaluate your results based on your health and other factors. This means that a value that falls outside the normal values listed here may still be normal for you or your lab.
Lipase1| Adults age 60 and younger: | 10–140
units per liter (U/L) or 0.17–2.3 microkats/liter
(mckat/L) |
|---|
| Adults older than age 60: | 18–180 units per liter (U/L) or 0.30–3.0
mckat/L |
|---|
High values
A high lipase level may be caused
by:
What Affects the Test
Reasons you may not be able to
have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
What To Think About
- You can have a high lipase level even when you
do not have any problems with your pancreas.
- A test for amylase, another enzyme produced by the pancreas, is
often done at the same time as a test for lipase. Measuring both amylase and
lipase sometimes can help determine the cause of a high amylase level. For more
information, see the topic
Amylase.
- The lipase test is more accurate
than the amylase test for diagnosing pancreatitis.
- Other blood tests that may be done at the same time as a test for
lipase include calcium, glucose, phosphorus, triglycerides, alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine. For more
information, see the topics
Calcium in Blood,
Blood Glucose,
Alanine Aminotransferase,
Blood Urea Nitrogen, and
Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance.
References
Citations
- Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009).
Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Other Works Consulted
- Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (2008). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 5th ed. St. Louis:
Saunders.
- Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009).
Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
- Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
|---|
| Last Revised | April 8, 2011 |
|---|
Last Revised:
April 8, 2011
Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009).
Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.