What is alpha-amylase test:
Amylase is an enzyme which helps carbohydrates to digest. Amylase is produced in the pancreas and the glands. In the blood, amylase levels rise when pancreas is inflamed. An alpha-amylase test is done to measure the level of this enzyme or content of the alpha-amylase enzyme in the blood
Why it is done:
- This test is done to find out pancreatic diseases
- This test is done for chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocyst
- This test determine if the treatment for pancreatic conditions is working well
- This test allow you to know the reason of swelling or inflammation of the salivary glands
Preparations for test:
- Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before the test
- Do not drink or eat for a couple of hours before the test and only water can be taken during this time
- Urine test involves urine collection over a 24 hour period so drink enough water to avoid dehydration
- Tell your doctor if you are taking any kind of medicines
- If female is going through menstruation, the urine test must be rescheduled for a later date
How it is done:
- Blood test and urine test are involved in this test
- In the blood test a blood sample is needed
- Then clean the needle site with alcohol and insert needle into vein to take blood sample
- After taking blood sample he or she withdraw needle from the vein and remove elastic band from the arm
- Then put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site and apply bandage over there
- In urine test, A 24-hour urine sample is needed
- Start collecting your urine in the morning up to next 24 hours
- Do not get toilet paper, pubic hair, stool, menstrual blood in urine sample
- Then send the sample to laboratory for the test