Measurement of Pancreatic and Salivary Alpha-Amylase in Serum: Comparison of Methods with Five Different Substrates

Abstract

Pancreatic and salivary α-amylase in human serum have been determined with the inhibitor method with 5 different substrates. An end concentration of 60 inhibitor units per liter reagent is sufficient for inhibition of the salivary α-amylase. The recovery of known amounts of pancreatic and salivary α-amylase was excellent. A mean ± SD of 53.1 ± 3.8% of pancreatic α-amylase as percentage of total α-amylase in serum has been observed for the 5 different substrates used. Moreover, it seems that standards obtained from crude saliva or duodenal fluid can be used as well as pure enzymes obtained from a commercial supplier.