Glycerol interference in serum lipase assay falsely indicates pancreas injury.
The measurement of serum lipase activity has been shown to be a very sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of pancreatic injury. Two case reports are presented showing that glycerol ingested coincidentally in the formulation of several medications taken therapeutically and given in the emergency room causes a falsely elevated serum lipase activity when measured on the Kodak Ektachem 700 clinical analyzer (Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY). The transient but falsely elevated serum lipase activity could potentially affect the differential diagnosis of patients by the admitting physician.
Bilodeau
L
L
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Grotte
D A
DA
Preese
L M
LM
Apple
F S
FS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D008049:Lipase; D005990:Glycerol