Lipase is a protein (enzyme) released by the pancreas into the small intestine. It helps the body absorb fat by breaking the fat down into fatty acids.

This article discusses the test used to measure the amount of the lipase in the blood.

A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture.

Do not eat for 8 hours before the test.

Your health care provider may ask you to stop taking drugs that may affect the test, such as:

• Bethanechol
• Birth control pills
• Cholinergic medications
• Codeine
• Indomethacin
• Meperidine
• Methacholine
• Morphine
• Thiazide diuretics

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

This test is done to check the pancreas for disease, most often acute pancreatitis.

Lipase appears in the blood when the pancreas is damaged.

Review Date: 02/04/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)