Description

Intended Use

For the quantitative in vitro determination of Pancreatic Amylase in serum. This product is suitable for automated, semi-automated and manual use.

Clinical Significance

The amylases are a group of hydrolases that split complex carbohydrates constituted of a-D-glucose units. The two recognised types of amylases are ?-amylase (e.g. plant and bacterial exoamylase) and human a-amylases which can attack the a-1, 4 linkage anywhere along a polyglucan chain.

Human a-amylase consists of two major isoenzymes, pancreatic and salivary, which are encoded by two different genes. Pancreatic amylase is synthesised only in pancreatic tissue by acinar cells. Amylase measurements are used primarily for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). The evaluation of the pancreatic isoamylase may have a greater clinical specificity for the diagnosis of pancreatic disorders than total amylase assessment.