A Method for Quantitating Amylase and its Use in the Investigation of Various Body Fluids

Abstract

A plate-diffusiontechnique for the quantitative assay of amylase in body fluids is described which is dependent on the incorporation of a soluble amylopectin-dye complex into agar. The technique correlates well with other established amylase assays, and has a coefficient of variation of 1.45 for amylase levels within the normal range for serum.Normal levels of amylase in serum and urine are reported which agree with those recorded by previous workers, and in addition values of amylase in semen, saliva, and tears are quoted. METHOD MATERIALS ring whose sharp edges make the measurement of diameter a simple procedure. The ring diameter is related to amylase concentration.Amylase levels were determined in a range of body fluids.

A Potential Screening Test for Elevated Serum Amylase Levels: Preliminary Communication

“…The standard sticks were prepared by the above procedure using normal and abnormal serum samples whose amylase levels had been determined as previously described (Kipps and Whitehead, 1974). The NORMAL standard stick was prepared using serum with an amylase concentration of 120 IV (65 Somogyi units), the MEDIUM from serum at 640 IV (346 Somogyi units), and the HIGH from serum at 2200 IV (1190 Somogyi units).…”

“…A previous assay method has been described (Kipps and Whitehead, 1974) which makes use of a soluble dyed starch (procion red MX2B amylopectin) dispersed in agar for use in a plate diffusion assay. The substrate was shown to behave in a reproducible and predictable manner in the amylase assay.…”

“…The reaction of the substrate with amylase has been shown to be quantitative (Kipps and Whitehead, 1974), and hence the proposed use of the paper as an assay for a screening test for serum amylase seemed feasible. For clinical purposes DISCUSSION …”