Understanding Your Medical Test: What It Is, How It Works, and Why Your Doctor Ordered It

What is this test? This is a diagnostic test that helps your healthcare provider check how your body is working, look for early signs of illness, and gather important information to guide the next steps in your care.

The 24-hour urine amylase test measures the amount of amylase, a digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas (and sometimes salivary glands), in your urine collected over a 24-hour period. Amylase helps break down carbohydrates in the food you eat. When the pancreas is healthy, it releases a consistent amount of amylase into the digestive tract. However, when the pancreas is inflamed or damaged, amylase levels can become elevated in the blood and eventually appear in urine.

How is the test performed? Depending on the type of test, a trained healthcare professional may draw a small sample of your blood, collect a urine specimen, or use a quick, painless procedure at your doctor's office, a clinic, or a hospital.

For this test, you will collect all urine you produce over a 24-hour period. You will be given a special container to collect your urine. It's important to follow these steps: Start collecting urine in the morning after your first urination, note the start time, collect all urine for the next 24 hours, store the container as instructed (usually refrigerated), and return the sample to your lab or healthcare provider as directed.

Why is this test ordered? Your doctor may order this test to confirm or rule out a health condition, monitor an existing problem, screen for disease before symptoms appear, or check how well your current treatment is working.

Your doctor may order this test if you have symptoms of pancreatic problems, such as severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or loss of appetite. It is commonly used to diagnose acute pancreatitis (sudden pancreas inflammation), chronic pancreatitis (long-term inflammation), pancreatic duct obstruction, or other pancreatic disorders. The test may also be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for pancreatic conditions.