Amylase

Test Code

243

CPT Codes
82150

Preferred Specimen

1 mL serum collected in a serum separator tube (SST)

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Instructions

For fluids, refer to codes: 17414 - Amylase, Peritoneal Fluid or 17415X, Amylase, Pleural Fluid. For plasma, refer to code 0273.

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Gross hemolysis

Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)

Setup Schedule

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: Next day

Reference Range

21-101 U/L

Clinical Significance

The major sources of amylase are the pancreas and the salivary glands. The most common cause of elevation of serum amylase is inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). In acute pancreatitis, serum amylase begins to rise within 6-24 hours, remains elevated for a few days and returns to normal in 3-7 days. Other causes of elevated serum amylase are inflammation of salivary glands (mumps), biliary tract disease and bowel obstruction. Elevated serum amylase can also be seen with drugs (e.g., morphine) which constrict the pancreatic duct sphincter preventing excretion of amylase into the intestine.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.