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Test Code FPCEL Elastase, Pancreatic, Serum


Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: The patient should fast for 10 to 12 hours prior to collection of specimen. Medications that affect pancreatic activity should be discontinued, if possible, for at least 48 hours prior to collection of specimen.

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Red top

Acceptable: Serum gel

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw blood in a plain, red-top or a serum gel tube(s).

2. Centrifuge as soon as possible, aliquot 3 mL of serum into a plastic vial, and freeze immediately.

3. Send frozen.


Method Name

Direct radioimmunoassay (RIA)

Reporting Name

Pancreatic Elastase-1

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

1 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Frozen (preferred) 365 days
  Refrigerated  7 days
  Ambient  72 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus Reject

Clinical Information

Serum Elastase, also called Pancreatopeptidase, is a protease present in pancreatic secretion with the unique ability to rapidly hydrolyze elastin. Elastin is a fibrillar protein found in connective tissue. Elastin forms the elastic fibers found mostly in lungs and skin. Elastase is able to hydrolyze denatured hemoglobin, casein, fibrin, albumin and denatured but not native collagen. Elastase has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema, atherosclerosis and in the vascular injury of acute pancreatic necrosis. Elastase activity is inhibited by protease inhibitors including a1-Anti-Trypsin, a1-anti-Chymotrypsin, anti-Thrombin III, a2-Macroglobulin and b1-anti-Collagenase. Patients with thyroid dysfunction have decreased Elastase activity. Serum pancreatic levels quantify EL 1 for the diagnosis or exclusion of an acute pancreatitis or an inflammatory episode of chronic pancreatitis or gallstone induced pancreatitis.

Reference Values

Normal pancreatic exocrine function: Less than 3.5 ng/mL

No pediatric reference ranges available for this test.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

12 to 14 days

Performing Laboratory

Inter Science Institute

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Inter Science Institute. Values obtained with different methods, laboratories, or kits cannot be used interchangeably with the results on this report. The results cannot be interpreted as absolute evidence of the presence or absence of malignant disease.

CPT Code Information

83519