[5][6][7] Clinical literature that describes human elastase 1 activity in the pancreas or fecal material is actually referring to chymotrypsin-like elastase family member 3B (i.e. the enzyme / protein this article focuses on).

[8] Elastases form a subfamily of serine proteases that hydrolyze many proteins in addition to elastin.

[7] Fecal elastase is a medical test that measures how well the pancreas is functioning.

[9] Levels of fecal elastase lower than 200 μg / g of stool indicate an exocrine insufficiency.

Correlations between low levels and chronic pancreatitis[10] and cancer[citation needed] have been reported.