cPL / fPL — Pancreatic Lipase¶
1. What is Pancreatic Lipase?¶
Pancreatic lipase is a digestive enzyme secreted exclusively by the pancreas. Unlike the non-specific lipase measured in routine chemistry panels, canine pancreatic lipase (cPL) and feline pancreatic lipase (fPL) are species-specific assays that detect lipase originating specifically from the pancreas — making them the preferred serum marker for pancreatitis in dogs and cats.
2. Data Card¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Biomarker | cPL (canine pancreatic lipase) / fPL (feline pancreatic lipase) |
| Organ | Pancreas |
| Species | cPL — Canine; fPL — Feline |
| Specimen | Serum |
| Method | FICT (Fluorescence Immunochromatography) |
| Analyzer | FIA680 / FIA880 |
| Unit | µg/L |
3. Reference Range & Cutoffs¶
| Species | Normal | Equivocal | Consistent with Pancreatitis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canine (cPL) | < 200 µg/L | 200–400 µg/L | > 400 µg/L |
| Feline (fPL) | < 3.5 µg/L | 3.5–5.3 µg/L | > 5.3 µg/L |
Values in the equivocal range warrant repeat testing or correlation with clinical signs and imaging. The product IFU is the authoritative source.
4. Clinical Significance¶
- Pancreatitis diagnosis: cPL/fPL is the most sensitive and specific serum marker for pancreatitis in dogs and cats, outperforming total amylase and total lipase.
- Species specificity matters: Total lipase on a chemistry panel is not pancreas-specific; cPL/fPL assays use species-specific antibodies against pancreatic lipase.
- Severity is not concentration-dependent: The degree of elevation does not reliably predict pancreatitis severity — correlate with clinical status.
5. cPL/fPL vs Routine Lipase¶
| Attribute | cPL/fPL | Routine (total) Lipase |
|---|---|---|
| Pancreas specificity | High (species-specific antibody) | Low (non-specific) |
| Sensitivity for pancreatitis | High | Variable |
| Clinical utility | Preferred pancreatitis marker | Limited, non-specific |
6. Analytical Performance (Migibio Assay)¶
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| LOD | 5 µg/L |
| LOQ | 10 µg/L |
| Linear range | 10–1000 µg/L |
| Intra-assay CV% | < 8% |
| Inter-assay CV% | < 10% |
| Correlation vs reference (r) | > 0.95 |
7. Interpretation Guide¶
| Result | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Normal | Pancreatitis unlikely |
| Equivocal | Recheck in 24–48 h; correlate with clinical signs and ultrasound |
| Elevated | Consistent with pancreatitis — initiate supportive care |
Note: A single normal cPL/fPL does not fully exclude pancreatitis, especially early in disease. Recheck if clinical suspicion persists.
8. References¶
- Forman MA, Marks SL, De Cock HE, et al. Evaluation of serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity and helical computed tomography versus conventional testing for the diagnosis of feline acute pancreatitis. J Vet Intern Med. 2004;18(6):807-815. PMID: 15638263
For the review and citation policy, see the Editorial & Review Policy.
Authored by: Migibio Clinical & Scientific Affairs, Guangzhou Magic Biotech Co., Ltd.
Reviewed by: Migibio R&D Quality Committee
Last updated: 2026-08-13
Disclosure: Migibio (Guangzhou Magic Biotech Co., Ltd.) is the manufacturer of the FIA680/FIA880 analyzers and FICT reagents referenced in this content. See our Editorial & Review Policy.