BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCholinesterase - bloodAcetylcholinesterase; RBC (or erythrocyte) cholinesterase; Pseudocholinesterase; Plasma cholinesterase; Butyrylcholinesterase; Serum cholinesteraseSerum cholinesterase is a blood test that looks at levels of 2 substances that help the nervous system work properly. They are called acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase. Your nerves need these substances to send signals.Acetylcholinesterase is found in nerve tissue and red blood cells. Pseudocholinesterase is found primarily in the liver. How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. Most of the time blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. Drawn from a veinVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test No special steps are needed to prepare for this test. How the Test will Feel You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted. You may also feel some throbbing at the site after the blood is drawn. Why the Test is Performed Your health care provider may order this test if you may have been exposed to chemicals called organophosphates. These chemicals are used in pesticides. This test can help determine your risk of poisoning.Less often, this test may be done:To diagnose liver disease Liver diseaseThe term "liver disease" applies to many conditions that stop the liver from working or prevent it from functioning well. Abdominal pain or swelling...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Before you receive anesthesia with succinylcholine, which may be given before certain procedures or treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Normal Results Typically, normal pseudocholinesterase values range between 8 and 18 units per milliliter (U/mL) or 8 and 18 kilounits per liter (kU/L).Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. Levels can vary from person to person, so having a baseline level makes the test more accurate. What Abnormal Results Mean Decreased pseudocholinesterase levels may be due to:Hereditary deficiency of pseudocholinesterase Chronic infection Chronic malnutrition ChronicChronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quick...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart attack Liver damage Metastasis MetastasisMetastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread through the blood or the ly...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Obstructive jaundice Poisoning from organophosphates (chemicals found in some pesticides) Inflammation that accompanies some diseasesSmaller decreases may be due to:Pregnancy Use of birth control pills Open ReferencesReferencesHall JE, Hall ME. The autonomic nervous system and the adrenal medulla. In: Hall JE, Hall ME, eds. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 61.Nelson LS. Acute poisoning. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 102.Ritter JM, Flower R, Henderson G, Loke YK, MacEwan D, Rang HP. Chemical mediators and the autonomic nervous system. In: Ritter JM, Flower R, Henderson G, Loke YK, MacEwan D, Rang HP, eds. Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 13.AllVideoImagesTogCholinesterase test - illustration During a cholinesterase test, a needle is inserted into a vein and blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. The sample is taken to the laboratory for evaluation. The lab evaluates the enzymes acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase, which act to break down acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a critical chemical in the transmission of nerve impulses.Cholinesterase testillustrationCholinesterase test - illustration During a cholinesterase test, a needle is inserted into a vein and blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. The sample is taken to the laboratory for evaluation. The lab evaluates the enzymes acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase, which act to break down acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a critical chemical in the transmission of nerve impulses.Cholinesterase testillustration Tests for Cholinesterase - blood Cholinesterase - bloodRelated Information Liver disease(Condition)Seizures(Symptoms)Acute(Special Topic)Chronic(Special Topic)Metastasis(Special Topic)Heart attack(Condition)Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth)Hepatitis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 4/29/2023 Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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Cholinesterase - bloodAcetylcholinesterase; RBC (or erythrocyte) cholinesterase; Pseudocholinesterase; Plasma cholinesterase; Butyrylcholinesterase; Serum cholinesteraseSerum cholinesterase is a blood test that looks at levels of 2 substances that help the nervous system work properly. They are called acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase. Your nerves need these substances to send signals.Acetylcholinesterase is found in nerve tissue and red blood cells. Pseudocholinesterase is found primarily in the liver. How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. Most of the time blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. Drawn from a veinVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test No special steps are needed to prepare for this test. How the Test will Feel You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted. You may also feel some throbbing at the site after the blood is drawn. Why the Test is Performed Your health care provider may order this test if you may have been exposed to chemicals called organophosphates. These chemicals are used in pesticides. This test can help determine your risk of poisoning.Less often, this test may be done:To diagnose liver disease Liver diseaseThe term "liver disease" applies to many conditions that stop the liver from working or prevent it from functioning well. Abdominal pain or swelling...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Before you receive anesthesia with succinylcholine, which may be given before certain procedures or treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Normal Results Typically, normal pseudocholinesterase values range between 8 and 18 units per milliliter (U/mL) or 8 and 18 kilounits per liter (kU/L).Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. Levels can vary from person to person, so having a baseline level makes the test more accurate. What Abnormal Results Mean Decreased pseudocholinesterase levels may be due to:Hereditary deficiency of pseudocholinesterase Chronic infection Chronic malnutrition ChronicChronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quick...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart attack Liver damage Metastasis MetastasisMetastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread through the blood or the ly...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Obstructive jaundice Poisoning from organophosphates (chemicals found in some pesticides) Inflammation that accompanies some diseasesSmaller decreases may be due to:Pregnancy Use of birth control pills Open ReferencesReferencesHall JE, Hall ME. The autonomic nervous system and the adrenal medulla. In: Hall JE, Hall ME, eds. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 61.Nelson LS. Acute poisoning. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 102.Ritter JM, Flower R, Henderson G, Loke YK, MacEwan D, Rang HP. Chemical mediators and the autonomic nervous system. In: Ritter JM, Flower R, Henderson G, Loke YK, MacEwan D, Rang HP, eds. Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 13.