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Lipase is an enzyme in your blood that helps your body digest fats. A high level can point to inflammation or another condition of the pancreas. A low level can point to lasting damage to the cells that make lipase.[1]
On this page you can read what lipase is, what the guidelines say about a level that is too low or too high, what affects your level and which other levels are best to look at alongside it.
Also known as: serum lipase, LPS. At the lab: LIPA.
Lipase is an enzyme. An enzyme is a protein that makes certain chemical reactions in your body happen faster. Lipase helps your body digest fats.[1]
Most lipase comes from your pancreas. This organ sits behind the lower part of your stomach. Your salivary glands and your stomach also make lipase.[1]
A small amount of lipase in your blood is normal. The test measures how much lipase is in your blood.[1]
When the cells of your pancreas are damaged, they release more lipase. That is why the test helps doctors look at your pancreas, especially when there is sudden inflammation.[1]
A doctor may order the test if you have symptoms that fit a problem with the pancreas. Think of abdominal pain that spreads to your lower back, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, a swollen or tender abdomen, fever, a fast heartbeat, or yellow skin and yellow eyes.[1]
The test can also show how a level changes during care for a condition of the pancreas.[1]
In 1992, an international classification of acute inflammation of the pancreas was drawn up in Atlanta. After consultation among pancreas specialists, this classification was revised in 2012.[2]
The lab BioProfile works with, Labplusarts, uses a reference range of 13 to 60 u/l for lipase. The lab calls a level between those limits normal.[3]
| Value | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Lower than normal[1] | Can point to lasting damage to the cells in the pancreas that make lipase | Especially with certain long-term conditions, such as long-term inflammation of the pancreas |
| Higher than normal[1] | Can point to a condition of the pancreas, the kidneys, the gallbladder, the intestines or the salivary glands, or to problems with alcohol | People with symptoms that fit a problem with the pancreas; medicines can also affect the level |
| Very high[1] | Is usually a sign of acute inflammation of the pancreas | People with symptoms such as abdominal pain that spreads to the lower back |
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. General information for the public, without fixed cut-off values in numbers.[1]
A low level can point to lasting damage to the cells in your pancreas that make lipase. This can happen with certain long-term conditions, such as long-term inflammation of the pancreas.[1]
A very high level is usually a sign of acute inflammation of the pancreas. A higher than normal level can also point to a condition of the kidneys, the gallbladder, the stomach, the intestines or the salivary glands, or to problems with alcohol. An abnormal level does not always point to a condition that needs care.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Sometimes you need to fast for 8 to 12 hours before the test. This means you do not eat or drink anything. Your healthcare provider will tell you whether you need to.[1]
Many medicines can affect your lipase level, such as codeine, water tablets, certain cholesterol medicines and the contraceptive pill. Supplements can also play a part. Do not stop taking a medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to.[1]
A condition of the pancreas, such as a blocked duct, can raise your level. The same goes for a condition of the kidneys, the gallbladder, the stomach, the intestines or the salivary glands.[1]
Lipase is included in BioProfile 121 and 150.[4]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 10 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 10 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert has yet to check this page; after that check, the expert's name and the date of the check will appear at the top. This page offers explanation, not a diagnosis. Discuss a value outside the range with your GP.
