Loading page…
The Lipase test measures the level of lipase — an enzyme produced almost exclusively by the pancreas that digests dietary fats...
Also known as: Serum Lipase Test · Pancreatic Lipase Test · Lipase Blood Test · Pancreatic Enzyme Test
Limited Offer | Best Price Guaranteed
Loading price…
Loading price…
*Inclusive of home collection charges
The Lipase test measures the level of lipase — an enzyme produced almost exclusively by the pancreas that digests dietary fats — in the blood. Lipase is significantly more specific for pancreatic disease than amylase, as it is produced almost entirely by the pancreas (unlike amylase, which also comes from salivary glands). Serum lipase rises within 4–8 hours of acute pancreatitis onset, peaks at 24 hours, and remains elevated for 7–10 days — much longer than amylase — making it the preferred diagnostic marker for pancreatitis, particularly when patients present more than 24 hours after symptom onset. No fasting required.
Key benefits of this package include:
What Does the Lipase Test Measure?
| Level / Result | Possible Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 10–140 U/L (Normal) | Normal pancreatic lipase secretion — no significant pancreatic pathology |
| 140–420 U/L (Mildly elevated — 1–3x upper limit) | Mild elevation — possible pancreatic irritation, renal impairment (reduced clearance), or early pancreatitis; correlate with amylase and clinical picture |
| > 420 U/L (> 3x upper limit) | Highly suggestive of acute pancreatitis — clinical examination and CT imaging recommended |
| > 1,000 U/L (Markedly elevated) | Acute pancreatitis — severity assessment with CT Severity Index required; hospital management indicated |
| Elevated lipase + Normal amylase | Strongly pancreatic — lipase is more specific; late-presenting pancreatitis where amylase has already normalised |
| Persistently elevated lipase (> 3 weeks) | Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocyst, or pancreatic malignancy — further imaging required |
Important Note: Lipase must be interpreted alongside amylase, clinical symptoms, and imaging. Mildly elevated lipase (1–3x normal) can occur with renal failure (reduced clearance), bowel obstruction, and some medications — not all elevations indicate pancreatitis. The threshold of 3 times the upper limit of normal maximises specificity for pancreatitis diagnosis. CT abdomen with contrast (CECT) is the gold-standard for pancreatitis severity assessment and complication detection. All results must be reviewed by a physician.
Lipase in Chronic Pancreatitis — A Different Clinical Picture: In acute pancreatitis, lipase is dramatically elevated (often > 1,000 U/L). In chronic pancreatitis — where repeated episodes of inflammation have progressively destroyed pancreatic tissue — lipase levels may be paradoxically normal or only mildly elevated during acute exacerbations, because there is less functioning pancreatic tissue left to release it. End-stage chronic pancreatitis with exocrine insufficiency may show very low lipase — reflecting near-complete pancreatic acinar cell destruction. In this setting, stool elastase (a marker of pancreatic exocrine output) is a more sensitive test for pancreatic insufficiency than serum lipase.
Book once, we handle the rest. Our certified phlebotomist arrives at your doorstep — your report is delivered within 24 hours.
Trusted by millions of Customers across South India — these are the tests our doctors recommend most.
Screens for anaemia, infections, and immune health
