Amylase, Serum Test in Kathmandu

About this test

Amylase is a digestive enzyme made mainly by the pancreas and the salivary glands, and this test measures how much of it is circulating in your blood. Its single most important use is in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis: when the pancreas becomes inflamed, large amounts of amylase leak into the bloodstream, and levels typically rise within a few hours of the attack, peaking by the first day. This is why a doctor will order it urgently when someone arrives with sudden, severe upper-abdominal pain that bores through to the back, often with nausea, vomiting and abdominal tenderness. In Kathmandu the commonest triggers behind such an attack are gallstones and heavy alcohol use, so amylase is frequently requested alongside an abdominal ultrasound and a serum lipase test, which is more specific and stays elevated longer. A raised amylase is not unique to the pancreas, however; it can also climb with mumps and other salivary-gland disease, a blocked salivary duct, a perforated or obstructed bowel, ectopic pregnancy and impaired kidney function, since the kidneys clear the enzyme. For that reason your physician interprets the figure in context rather than in isolation, and the height of the rise does not reliably predict how severe the illness will be. A normal or low result helps reassure that the pancreas is not acutely inflamed, while serial measurements can be used to follow how an episode is settling. It remains one of the quickest, most widely available first-line tests for acute abdominal pain.

Sample type

Blood (serum)

Preparation

No fasting is usually required, but tell us if you have taken any alcohol in the last 24 hours or are on opioid painkillers, as both can affect the result. If your doctor has bundled this with other fasting tests, follow those fasting instructions instead.

Turnaround time

Reports for Amylase, Serum are typically ready within: Same Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other biochemistry tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Amylase, Serum or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.