Fluid for Lipase:
Why Fluid for Lipase Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
The pancreas is a glandular organ that is situated behind the stomach that secretes the digestive juices that empty into the small intestine. Lipases help to absorb fats. Lipases are the digestive enzymes that hydrolyze glycerol esters of long-chain fatty acids into fatty acids and 2-acyl glycerol. The pancreas is the primary source of serum lipase. Hence any pancreatic injury will result in elevated serum lipase levels in the blood and/or other body fluids. Therefore serum lipase aids in the diagnosis of pancreatitis (eg. Acute Pancreatitis) and also in the prognosis (following the efficacy of treatment). Clinical manifestations of pancreatitis include severe abdominal or back pain (Epigastric abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, which gets worsened by ingestion of food), fever, loss of appetite, nausea and/or vomiting etc. The most common causes of pancreatitis are chronic alcoholism (abuse), hypertriglyceridemia, gall bladder disease.
The sample specimen is usually an intra-vascular fluid eg. Blood (serum/plasma) and/or body or bio-fluids. Body fluids such as intracellular and extracellular fluids are an accurate source of potential biomarkers as they have their ability to actively exchange certain biological factors between them i.e for example the lymphatic system, tissue interstitial fluid and blood plasma etc. The purpose of body fluids is to deliver nutrients and oxygen to all the cells of the body and remove the end products or toxic substances from the cells that are produced during the metabolism, to eliminate them out of the system by flushing them out of the body as urine, faeces, sweat etc. Other functions of the bio-fluid/body fluids include maintenance of body temperature. When the body temperature increases, the blood circulation to the skin also instantaneously increases thus facilitating the dissipation of heat through sweating etc. The sample specimen is usually Intra-Vascular Fluid i.e Blood (serum/plasma) and/or body fluids. Body/Bio-Fluid Tests: Body Fluids include Peritoneal/Ascitic fluid (Ascites) – in peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of inner abdominal wall etc), Pericardial fluid, infected pleural fluid causing pleural effusion, Bronchial Wash, Drain or aspiration Fluids - Paracentesis, Thoracocentesis, aspiration of bone marrow, aspiration of amniotic fluid, JP Drain and /or blood, urine, saliva, sweat, bile fluid, seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, synovial fluid, nasal fluid, CSF, lymph, endolymph etc can provide a vital clue in the biochemical investigation of pathologies in certain disorders or disease conditions in certain differential diagnosis to arrive at a conclusive definitive diagnosis and also for prognosis.Significance of Lipase on Body/Bio-Fluids test: Thus the estimation of digestive enzymes such as amylase (an enzyme that cleaves starch), lipases in the pancreatic fluid when accumulating in the peritoneal cavity (since the concentration in the peritoneal fluid is much higher than serum concentrations) during certain pathologies like pancreatitis plays a key role in its early detection. Moreover, lipases in the drain fluids are much elevated in cases with chronic pancreatitis or the formation of a fistula following surgery (post-surgical complication). Lipase test also monitored in certain other pathological conditions such as Strangulated or infected bowel (bowel that has restricted blood supply), Pancreatic Cyst, Pseudocyst, Pancreatic Cancer, Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder), Perforated Ulcer, Severe Gastroenteritis, Duodenal Ulcer, Cystic Fibrosis, Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease, Kidney Failure, Alcoholism, Side effects of Medications – eg. Prolonged use of oral contraceptives in women. Additional tests – Tests for pancreatitis other than lipases include CBC, LDH-Lactate Dehydrogenase and Urinary Tests (such as urinary amylase and urinary trypsinogen-2). While another metabolic panel should be considered to inform prognosis (a guide to assist the treatment) and hence the panels for fluid status should include sodium, potassium, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, calcium, glucose, bicarbonate. Other tests include CRP, Procalcitonin, trypsin, interleukin-6, imaging studies like MRI, CT Scan etc.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein and/or tests on body/bio-fluid like Peritoneal fluid (ascites) – in peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of inner abdominal wall etc), Pericardial fluid, drain fluids – Paracentesis, Thoracocentesis, JP Drain etc (Since the sample specimen could vary according to the patient’s pathology, the type of body fluid specimen will be directed by the physician or the pathologist after clinical assessment). Test Preparation: Fasting required.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
