Urine Amylase

Timed or Random Urine Specimen (Prefer 2-hour urine collection)

Collect random specimen in a sterile urine cup or collect timed specimen in a 24-hour urine jug.  A 2-hour timed collection is the preferred specimen.  For timed specimens:  Record start and stop time or number of hours collected on jug.  If transferring specimen from larger jug to a smaller cup, measure volume first and record on smaller cup, along with the start and stop time or number of hours.

This test is for Amylase measurement on Urine.  For Amylase measurement on Plasma or Serum, order AMY.  For Amylase measurement on Body Fluids, order MISAMY.

24-hour urine bottle or sterile urine cup

Monday - Sunday, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm upon receipt

Urine Volume:  800 - 1800 mL/24 hours
Amylase/Total Volume:  32 - 641 U/2 hours

Amylases are enzymes that hydrolyze complex carbohydrates. They are produced by a number of organs and tissues, predominantly the exocrine pancreas (P-type amylase) and salivary glands (S-type amylase). Plasma amylases are of relatively low molecular weight for an enzyme (55,000-60,000 daltons) and enter the urine through glomerular filtration. Conditions that cause increased entry of amylase into plasma (eg, acute pancreatitis) will thus result in increased urinary excretion of amylase. Therefore, urinary amylase is sometimes used in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. However, the rate of urinary amylase excretion appears to be less sensitive than plasma markers, and is not specific for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.

Similar to other low-molecular-weight proteins filtered by glomeruli, amylases are reabsorbed to an extent by the proximal tubule. Thus, conditions associated with increased production and glomerular filtration of other low-molecular-weight proteins that compete with tubular reabsorption of amylase or conditions of proximal tubular injury may increase urinary amylase excretion. Also, a number of disorders other than acute pancreatitis may cause increases in plasma amylase concentrations and consequent increases in urinary amylase excretion. These conditions include burns, ketoacidosis, myeloma, light-chain proteinuria, march hemoglobinuria, acute appendicitis, intestinal perforation, and following extracorporeal circulation.

This test is for Amylase measurement on Urine.  For Amylase measurement on Plasma or Serum, order AMY.  For Amylase measurement on Body Fluids, order MISAMY.

Quantitation of urinary amylase excretion is also useful in monitoring for rejection following pancreas transplantation. The duodenal cuffs of donor pancreases are often surgically anastomosed to the recipient's bladder at the time of pancreas transplantation, allowing for drainage of exocrine pancreas fluid into the bladder. In pancreatic rejection, urinary amylase excretion decreases.  Decreases in urinary amylase excretion of greater than 30% to 50%, relative to baseline values, may be associated with acute pancreas allograft rejection. However, acute rejection is usually not established solely by changes in urinary amylase excretion, but by tissue biopsy.