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Definition Return to top
This is a test that measures the amount of amylase in urine.How the test is performed Return to top
A 24-hour urine sample is needed. The health care provider will instruct you, if necessary, to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test.Infant:
Thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end), and place it on your infant. For boys, the entire penis can be placed in the bag and the adhesive attached to the skin. For girls, the bag is placed over the labia.
Place a diaper over the infant (bag and all). The infant should be checked frequently and the bag changed after the infant has urinated into the bag. For active infants, this procedure may take a couple of attempts, as lively infants can displace the bag. The urine is drained into the container for transport to the laboratory.
Deliver it to the laboratory or your health care provider as soon as possible upon completion.
The lab analyzes the sample for the amount of amylase excreted by the body.
How to prepare for the test Return to top
No special preparation is necessary for this test, but if the collection is being taken from an infant, a couple of extra collection bags may be necessary.How the test will feel Return to top
The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort.Why the test is performed Return to top
Amylase is an enzyme that helps digest glycogen and starch. It is produced mainly in the pancreas and salivary glands. Amylase is normally secreted from the pancreas through the pancreatic duct into the small intestine.Normal Values Return to top
The normal range is 2.6 to 21.2 IU/h (international units per hour)What abnormal results mean Return to top
Increased amylase levels may indicate:What the risks are Return to top
There are no risks.Special considerations Return to top
Drugs that can increase amylase levels include asparaginase, aspirin, cholinergic agents, corticosteroids, indomethacin, loop and thiazide diuretics, methyldopa, codeine, morphine, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), and pentazocine. Update Date: 8/18/2003 Updated by: David Webner, M.D., Sports Medicine Fellow, Crozer-Keystone Family Practice Program, Springfield, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |