What is being tested?This test measures the amount of lipase in the blood. Lipase is one of several
enzymes produced by the pancreas to help digest dietary fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. It is transported through the pancreatic duct and into the
duodenum, where it helps break down dietary triglycerides (a form of fat) into fatty acids.
Lipase is usually present in the blood in small quantities. When cells in the pancreas are injured (as in pancreatitis) or the pancreatic duct is blocked (by a gallstone or rarely by a pancreatic tumor), increased amounts of lipase leak into the bloodstream, increasing blood concentrations.
