Also Known AsSerum Lipase Test, Pancreatic Lipase Test, Blood Lipase Test
Sample TypeBlood (Serum)
Fasting RequiredYes, 8 hours recommended
Report DeliveryWithin 24 hours
Age GroupAll age groups
GenderMale & Female
Test TypeEnzymatic Colorimetric Assay
UnitsU/L (Units per Litre)
1
The Lipase test is a blood test that measures the level of lipase, a digestive enzyme produced almost exclusively by the pancreas. Lipase plays a central role in digestion by breaking down dietary fats into fatty acids and glycerol in the small intestine. Under normal conditions, only small amounts of lipase are present in the bloodstream. When the pancreas is inflamed, damaged, or obstructed, lipase leaks into the blood in significantly elevated amounts, making it the most specific and reliable blood marker of pancreatic injury currently available.
Lipase has largely replaced amylase as the preferred pancreatic enzyme test in modern clinical practice because it remains elevated for a longer period, up to 7 to 14 days after the onset of acute pancreatitis compared to just 3 to 5 days for amylase, and because it is significantly more specific to the pancreas with far fewer non-pancreatic causes of elevation. In India, acute pancreatitis is increasingly prevalent with gallstones and alcohol consumption being the two most common triggers, and lipase testing is now the standard first-line investigation in any patient presenting with upper abdominal pain where pancreatitis is suspected. The test involves a simple blood draw completed in under five minutes.
2
Doctors prescribe a Lipase test in the following situations:
Diagnosing acute pancreatitis in patients presenting with severe upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, nausea, vomiting, and fever, where a serum lipase above three times the upper limit of normal is the most accurate single blood test for confirming the diagnosis alongside clinical and imaging findings.
Investigating recurrent upper abdominal pain in patients with suspected chronic pancreatitis where lipase may be intermittently elevated during acute-on-chronic flares even when baseline levels have normalised due to progressive pancreatic tissue destruction.
Evaluating complications of acute pancreatitis including pancreatic pseudocysts, pancreatic necrosis, and pancreatic duct disruption where persistently elevated lipase indicates ongoing or worsening pancreatic involvement beyond the initial episode.
Distinguishing pancreatic from non-pancreatic causes of abdominal pain in the emergency setting, where a markedly elevated lipase alongside characteristic clinical features rapidly confirms pancreatitis and guides urgent management decisions.
Monitoring patients with known pancreatic disease, pancreatic cancer, or those recovering from pancreatic surgery where serial lipase measurements track disease activity and post-operative pancreatic function over time.
Investigating patients with hypertriglyceridaemia, a condition of very high blood triglycerides that is itself a significant cause of acute pancreatitis in India, where lipase testing both confirms the pancreatic complication and guides the urgency of triglyceride-lowering treatment.
Evaluating patients who present with abdominal pain late in the course of a pancreatic episode where amylase has already normalised, as lipase remains elevated significantly longer and provides a more reliable diagnostic window.
3
The Lipase test measures the enzymatic activity of lipase in the blood, reported in units per litre (U/L).
Normal Lipase Range in India
The standard reference ranges used across most Indian diagnostic laboratories are as follows.
For adults, a normal serum lipase level is between 13 and 60 U/L. Reference ranges may vary between laboratories depending on the analytical method used.
Interpreting Lipase Results
A lipase level up to three times the upper limit of normal, between 60 and 180 U/L, represents a mild to moderate elevation. At this level, causes including mild pancreatitis, pancreatic duct obstruction, renal impairment, and certain medications must all be considered alongside clinical findings.
A lipase level above three times the upper limit of normal, above 180 U/L, in a patient with characteristic upper abdominal pain meets the primary diagnostic criterion for acute pancreatitis and warrants urgent clinical evaluation, imaging with contrast-enhanced CT, and hospital assessment for severity grading and management.
A markedly elevated lipase above ten times the upper limit of normal, above 600 U/L, is strongly associated with severe acute pancreatitis and is a concerning prognostic indicator that typically requires inpatient management with close monitoring for complications including pancreatic necrosis and multi-organ dysfunction.
4
Fasting for 8 hours before the test is recommended for the most accurate result. You may drink water normally during the fasting period. Our team confirms preparation requirements at the time of booking.
Avoid alcohol consumption for at least 24 hours before the test. Alcohol is one of the most common triggers of acute pancreatitis in India and can independently elevate lipase levels, potentially producing a misleadingly abnormal result in the absence of true pancreatic inflammation.
Inform the phlebotomist about all medications you are currently taking. Corticosteroids, thiazide diuretics, azathioprine, valproic acid, statins, and certain antibiotics can raise lipase levels and must be disclosed for accurate interpretation by your doctor.
If you are presenting with acute abdominal pain and the test is being done urgently, no specific preparation is required. Unlike amylase, lipase remains elevated for 7 to 14 days after the acute episode, providing a longer and more reliable diagnostic window even when the patient presents late.
Stay normally hydrated before sample collection.
5
If you are booking through SecondMedic platform the Lipase test price in Haridwar can cost you around Rs. 658.
The exact price for your Lipase test in Haridwar will be confirmed at the time of booking through SecondMedic. If your doctor has prescribed multiple tests alongside Lipase, SecondMedic health packages available in Haridwar include Lipase as part of a broader pancreatic function or abdominal pain panel at a significantly lower combined price.
6
SecondMedic provides home sample collection for Lipase test across all major areas of Haridwar. You do not need to visit a lab or collection centre. A certified and trained phlebotomist comes to your home or workplace at your chosen time, collects the sample using sterile single-use equipment, and ensures it is transported to the NABL-accredited lab within the required time window for accurate processing.
Please note that SecondMedic provides free home sample collection on all tests priced above Rs. 300. Our team will check your pincode and confirm if your address in Haridwar falls under our free sample collection eligibility criteria, which depends upon the lab location and phlebotomist availability.
Home collection in Haridwar is available between 7 AM and 10 PM, seven days a week, including Sundays and public holidays. Enter your pincode on the booking page or call our helpline to confirm availability at your address in Haridwar.
Yes, Lipase test is available in Haridwar through SecondMedic with home collection and walk-in options. As the most specific and preferred blood marker for pancreatic disease diagnosis, SecondMedic ensures Lipase testing is accessible across all major serviceable areas in Haridwar with NABL-accredited processing.
If you are booking through SecondMedic platform the Lipase test price in Haridwar can cost you around Rs. 658. The exact price will be confirmed at the time of booking and may vary if booked as part of a broader pancreatic function or abdominal pain panel.
Your Lipase report will be delivered within 24 hours of sample collection in Haridwar directly on WhatsApp and email. No physical visit to any centre in Haridwar is required to collect the report.
All Lipase samples collected in Haridwar are processed at NABL-accredited partner laboratories using validated enzymatic colorimetric methods. Accurate lipase measurement is critical as acute pancreatitis diagnosis, severity assessment, and pancreatic disease monitoring are directly based on these values.
Yes, SecondMedic provides home sample collection for Lipase test across all major areas of Haridwar. For routine testing, fast for 8 hours before the home collection visit and avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the test. For urgent abdominal pain evaluation, no preparation is required and the sample can be collected immediately as lipase remains elevated for up to 14 days after an acute episode.
Yes, home collection for Lipase test in Haridwar is available on Sundays and all public holidays between 7 AM and 10 PM. Patients with chronic pancreatic conditions or those requiring periodic pancreatic function monitoring can book any day without scheduling constraints.
Lipase test is prescribed as the primary and most specific diagnostic marker for acute pancreatitis, replacing amylase in modern clinical practice due to its greater pancreatic specificity and longer elevation window of up to 14 days. It is also used to investigate recurrent abdominal pain in chronic pancreatitis, to monitor post-operative pancreatic function, and to evaluate pancreatitis complications in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia and gallstone disease.
Normal serum lipase levels for adults in India are between 13 and 60 U/L. A lipase above three times the upper limit of normal, above 180 U/L, alongside characteristic abdominal pain meets the primary diagnostic criterion for acute pancreatitis. A level above ten times the upper limit, above 600 U/L, is associated with severe pancreatitis requiring urgent inpatient management.
A lipase above three times the upper limit of normal in a patient with upper abdominal pain strongly confirms acute pancreatitis and requires urgent hospital evaluation and contrast-enhanced CT imaging for severity assessment. A markedly elevated lipase above 600 U/L indicates severe pancreatic inflammation with significant risk of complications including necrosis and multi-organ dysfunction, warranting immediate specialist management.
Content Reviewed By
Reviewed by:
Dr. Kovid Pandey
MBBS, General Physician
Last Reviewed: 10th Mar 2026
References
1
National Institutes of Health (NIH): Acute Pancreatitis Evaluation and Treatment, StatPearls, 2023
— www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG): ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Acute Pancreatitis, American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2013
— journals.lww.com
3
Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG): Consensus Guidelines on Management of Acute Pancreatitis, Indian Journal of Gastroenterology, 2022
— link.springer.com
4
European Pancreatic Club (EPC): Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Management of Acute Pancreatitis, Pancreatology, 2013
— www.pancreatology.net
5
Tenner S, Baillie J, DeWitt J, Vege SS: American College of Gastroenterology Guideline: Management of Acute Pancreatitis, American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2013
— gi.org
Book Lipase Test
Download Our App & Get Consultation from anywhere.