The enzymatic method of H. W. Schiwara (1972) Z. Klim. Chem. Klin. Biochem. 10,12--16 (reagents by Smith Kline Instruments), using the enzymatic reaction sequence alpha-amylase -- alpha-glucosidase -- hexokinase/glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase for the determination of alpha-amylase was evaluated on the ABA-100. The coefficient of variation for control sera and human pooled serum was 0.9--4.2% within series, and 1.4--6.6% day to day. Reference values for a healthy population (212 blood donors) in sera were 13--79 U/1 (+/- 2 SD), mean 46 U/1. In catch urines the values did not show a normal distribution; the minimal and maximal range for men was 58--385 U/1, for women 7--318 U/1. The kinetic curve of the enzymatic test was measured and the influence of glucose and linearity studied. In comparison with the enzymatic test, the chromogenic method Amlyochrom Roche was tested on the sera and urine of patients. The coefficient of correlation in sera was r = 0.975, in urine r = 0.965.