Lipase Blood Test

What is a lipase blood test?

A lipase blood test (serum lipase test) measures the amount of the enzyme lipase in your blood.

Your pancreas produces most of your body’s lipase. (Your stomach and salivary glands produce smaller amounts). During digestion, lipase flows from your pancreas to your small intestine, where it helps you digest fats.

It’s normal to have small amounts of lipase in your blood. But high levels may mean your pancreas is releasing lipase because of an injury. High levels of lipase may signal inflammation in your pancreas (pancreatitis) or other conditions.

Why would a doctor order a lipase test?

Healthcare providers usually order lipase blood tests if you have symptoms of acute pancreatitis. Symptoms include:

• Moderate to severe abdominal pain that may radiate to your lower back.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fast heart rate.
• Fast, shallow breathing.
• Fever.

These symptoms, alongside exceptionally high lipase levels, are the primary criteria providers use to diagnose acute pancreatitis.

A lipase blood test, with other pancreatic blood tests — like an amylase test — can help providers diagnose pancreatic disorders, like a pancreatic cyst or pancreatic duct obstruction. It can also help them pinpoint the issue causing the inflammation. Lipase levels can also be elevated in some non-pancreatic disorders, such as kidney, stomach and intestine diseases.

In some cases, lipase blood tests can show how you’re responding to treatments addressing the underlying condition. Your provider will let you know if you need follow-up lipase tests.

How does the test work?

It’s a simple blood test. During the test, a healthcare provider collects a blood sample and sends it to a lab. A lab specialist will test the sample to determine your lipase levels.

How do I prepare for a lipase test?

You’ll need to fast and stop drinking anything other than water for eight to 12 hours before the test.

Ask your healthcare provider if you need to stop taking any medicines before the blood draw. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbs and supplements. For example, some medications can increase your lipase levels, making it harder to tell if a condition is causing high levels.

These include some types of:

• Birth control pills.
• Pain medications (like codeine).
• Diuretics (water pills).
• Cholesterol medicines.

Never stop taking medications unless your provider advises you to.

What should I expect during the test?

The test takes fewer than five minutes. First, a healthcare provider will clean the part of your arm where they’ll take the sample. They’ll gently insert a needle into a vein and collect your blood in a vial. You may feel a slight sting when the needle goes in.

Once they remove the needle, they’ll bandage the site.

What should I expect after the test?

Most people are safe to leave after they’ve given blood. You may need to wait a bit if you feel dizzy or light-headed. Your healthcare provider will ensure you’re safe to leave before you go.

What are the risks of this test?

A lipase blood test is a safe test, with minimal risk of side effects. You may notice some slight bruising at the injection site. Some people feel faint after blood draws in general. But most people who get this test don’t experience issues.

What type of results do you get, and what do the results mean?

Your test result will be a number that falls inside or outside of what’s the normal range. Labs vary in terms of what’s considered a normal serum lipase range. Generally speaking, a lipase level between 0 to 160 units per liter (U/L) is considered normal.

But lots of factors come into play. Your age, sex and health status all make a difference when it comes to what a “normal” result is.

High levels

A result that’s three or more times higher than the top of the normal range may be a sign of acute pancreatitis.

Other conditions associated with high lipase levels include:

• Blocked pancreatic duct (the main duct that drains your pancreas).
• Bowel obstruction.
• Celiac disease.
• Diabetic-related ketoacidosis.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Kidney failure.
• Gallbladder disease.
• Gallstones.
• Salivary gland inflammation (sialadenitis).
• Stomach (peptic) ulcer.
• Peptic ulcer disease.
• Alcohol use disorder.

Low levels

Low levels may mean that the cells in your pancreas that make lipase aren’t making enough of it. This can happen if you have a chronic condition that causes long-term damage to the cells in your pancreas.

Low lipase may be a sign of:

• Cystic fibrosis.
• Chronic pancreatitis.

When should I know the results of the test?

The turnaround time is generally two or three days. But it depends on how long the lab takes to process your results. Before leaving your appointment, ask when you should expect results and how you’ll receive them.

If the results are abnormal, what are the next steps?

If you have extremely high lipase levels and symptoms of acute pancreatitis, your provider may recommend treatments. But sometimes, acute pancreatitis heals on its own. Much depends on the severity of your symptoms and what’s causing the inflammation.

If your symptoms don’t point to pancreatitis, you may need additional blood tests or imaging tests before your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Contact a healthcare provider if you have unexplained abdominal pain. You may need a lipase test to see if you have acute pancreatitis. They can recommend treatments based on what’s causing your symptoms.

What level of lipase is concerning?

Extremely high levels (three or more times higher than the top of the normal range) may be a sign of acute pancreatitis. It’s important to see a healthcare provider immediately if you have this condition.

But high (or low) levels alone aren’t usually enough to make a diagnosis. Your healthcare provider will consider your levels alongside other factors, like your symptoms and the results of other tests, to determine the care you need.

What are the symptoms of high lipase?

Symptoms depend on what’s causing your high lipase. For example, the most common symptom of acute pancreatitis is abdominal pain that radiates to your lower back. Other symptoms, like fever and nausea, may also signal a condition associated with high lipase levels.