Serum chemistry tests for acute pancreatitis include:

• A. Amylase and lipase
• B. Lipase and trypsin
• C. Amylase and trypsin
• D. Amylase, lipase, and trypsin

Answer: (A)

In acute pancreatitis, enzymes leak from the damaged pancreas into the bloodstream, so serum testing focuses on pancreatic enzymes. The two enzymes most commonly measured are amylase and lipase. Amylase tends to rise early after pancreatic injury and returns to normal within a few days, while lipase is more specific to pancreatic origin and remains elevated longer, often making it a more reliable indicator when patients present later.

Other enzymes like trypsin aren’t part of the routine serum panel used to diagnose pancreatitis, so they don’t fit as standard diagnostic markers. Measuring amylase and lipase together provides the best balance of sensitivity and specificity for acute pancreatitis in standard clinical practice.