Lipase Blood Test

How does the test work?

It’s a simple blood test. During the test, a healthcare provider collects a blood sample and sends it to a lab. A lab specialist will test the sample to determine your lipase levels.

How do I prepare for a lipase test?

You’ll need to fast and stop drinking anything other than water for eight to 12 hours before the test.

Ask your healthcare provider if you need to stop taking any medicines before the blood draw. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbs and supplements. For example, some medications can increase your lipase levels, making it harder to tell if a condition is causing high levels.

These include some types of:

• Birth control pills.
• Pain medications (like codeine).
• Diuretics (water pills).
• Cholesterol medicines.

Never stop taking medications unless your provider advises you to.

What should I expect during the test?

The test takes fewer than five minutes. First, a healthcare provider will clean the part of your arm where they’ll take the sample. They’ll gently insert a needle into a vein and collect your blood in a vial. You may feel a slight sting when the needle goes in.

Once they remove the needle, they’ll bandage the site.

What should I expect after the test?

Most people are safe to leave after they’ve given blood. You may need to wait a bit if you feel dizzy or light-headed. Your healthcare provider will ensure you’re safe to leave before you go.

What are the risks of this test?

A lipase blood test is a safe test, with minimal risk of side effects. You may notice some slight bruising at the injection site. Some people feel faint after blood draws in general. But most people who get this test don’t experience issues.

What type of results do you get, and what do the results mean?

Your test result will be a number that falls inside or outside of what’s the normal range. Labs vary in terms of what’s considered a normal serum lipase range. Generally speaking, a lipase level between 0 to 160 units per liter (U/L) is considered normal.

But lots of factors come into play. Your age, sex and health status all make a difference when it comes to what a “normal” result is.

High levels

A result that’s three or more times higher than the top of the normal range may be a sign of acute pancreatitis.

Other conditions associated with high lipase levels include:

• Blocked pancreatic duct (the main duct that drains your pancreas).
• Bowel obstruction.
• Celiac disease.
• Diabetic-related ketoacidosis.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Kidney failure.
• Gallbladder disease.
• Gallstones.
• Salivary gland inflammation (sialadenitis).
• Stomach (peptic) ulcer.
• Peptic ulcer disease.
• Alcohol use disorder.

Low levels

Low levels may mean that the cells in your pancreas that make lipase aren’t making enough of it. This can happen if you have a chronic condition that causes long-term damage to the cells in your pancreas.

Low lipase may be a sign of:

• Cystic fibrosis.
• Chronic pancreatitis.

When should I know the results of the test?

The turnaround time is generally two or three days. But it depends on how long the lab takes to process your results. Before leaving your appointment, ask when you should expect results and how you’ll receive them.

If the results are abnormal, what are the next steps?

If you have extremely high lipase levels and symptoms of acute pancreatitis, your provider may recommend treatments. But sometimes, acute pancreatitis heals on its own. Much depends on the severity of your symptoms and what’s causing the inflammation.

If your symptoms don’t point to pancreatitis, you may need additional blood tests or imaging tests before your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Contact a healthcare provider if you have unexplained abdominal pain. You may need a lipase test to see if you have acute pancreatitis. They can recommend treatments based on what’s causing your symptoms.