Lipase Test
Reviewed
This test measures the level of lipase, a digestive enzyme mostly made in the pancreas. It helps diagnose and monitor pancreatic diseases, especially acute pancreatitis, and other conditions.
Preparation and collection
You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for 8–12 hours before the test. Your provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before the test. Do not stop any medicines unless your provider tells you to.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Many medicines, including codeine, diuretics, certain cholesterol medicines, and birth control pills, can affect lipase levels.
- Abnormal levels do not always mean a medical condition that needs treatment.
What to do next
Discuss your lipase test results with your health care provider to understand what they mean for your health.