An enzyme immunoassay for the determination of lipase in human duodenal fluid.

The application of a commercially available enzyme immunoassay method for the determination of lipase concentration in human duodenal fluid is reported. Variations in the test procedure have been investigated. A sample incubation and a conjugate incubation of 1 h at 37 degrees C are necessary. There is substantial agreement between the determination of lipase in duodenal fluid measured according to this enzyme immunoassay and a turbidimetric method. The output of pancreatic lipase, alpha-amylase, and trypsin in four healthy volunteers during infusion of stepwise increasing doses of cholecystokinin was measured. A parallel increase of the output of these three enzymes has been observed, and there is a correlation between the activity concentrations of alpha-amylase and trypsin and the content of lipase in the various samples. This study shows that lipase in duodenal fluid can be easily and reliably determined with this enzyme immunoassay.