The α-Amylases catalyze the hydrolytic degradation of polymeric carbohydrates such as amylose, amylopectin and glycogen by cleaving glucosidic bonds. In polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, several glycosidic bonds are hydrolyzed simultaneously. Maltotriose, the smallest such unit, is converted into maltose and glucose, albeit very slowly. Two types of α amylase can be distinguished, the pancreatic type and the salivary type. Whereas the pancreatic type can be attributed almost exclusively to the pancreas and is therefore organ specific, the salivary type can originate from a number of sites. As well as appearing in the salivary glands it can also be found in tears, sweat, human milk, amniotic fluid, the lungs, testes and the epithelium of the fallopian tube.

Biorex Diagnostics manufactures Amylase reagents designed for Hitachi 917, Olympus AU600/400/640/2700 andCA 180/270/400 Furuno/Daytona systems.