Amylase is an enzyme that is responsible to digest glycogen and starch. Amylase is synthesized in the salivary glands and pancreas in the body. Therefore, if the pancreas or salivary glands get damaged or blocked, this enzyme is released into the bloodstream or in the urine.

The normal values of Amalyse is between 23 to 85 U/L (units per liter) in a healthy person. However, some laboratories claim it in the range of 40 to 140 U/L.

The Amalyse test is recommended to measures the amount of this enzyme present in a given sample of blood. This sample is taken from the vein. However, it is also possible to measure amalyse in urine. Amylase count in the blood remains high only for a short time, but in the urine it remains high for a number of days.

An amalyse test is done to monitor the treatment of pancreatitis and other pancreatic diseases, swelling and inflammation of the salivary glands, and intestines and gallbladder damage. Though rarely, but amylase is sometimes used in the diagnosis of cancer of the pancreas, gallbladder disease and mumps.

A higher amylase level may also indicate cancer of ovaries, or lungs. In certain cases, it may also indicate a tubal pregnancy.