Serum Lipase: A Rapid Photometric Method

Abstract

A photometric method for serum lipase determination is described which measures fatty acids released from an olive oil substrate at pH 8. 5, 40 C., and 30 min. of incubation. The lipase unit is defined as the amount of enzyme that will catalyze the hydrolysis of olive oil to release 1[mu]. Eq. of fatty acid. Of 100 healthy adults, 99 had serum values of less than 65 units. This method compared favorably with the Cherry-Crandall method in that it required only 0.05 ml. of serum and was rapid, more accurate, and more sensitive. In pancreatitis the serial values determined by the proposed method appeared to correlate better with amylase values and show larger deviations from normal than did those obtained with the Cherry-Crandall method.