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Ammonia, Plasma
Test CodeNH3
Preferred Specimen
2 mL plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Instructions
Tubes should be filled completely and kept tightly stoppered at all times. Place immediately on ice. Separate plasma from cells within 20 minutes and freeze plasma if testing is not performed immediately.
Transport Container
Transport tube
Transport Temperature
Frozen
Specimen Stability
Ambient: Unstable
Refrigerated: 20 minutes
Frozen -20° C: 7 days
Refrigerated: 20 minutes
Frozen -20° C: 7 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolysis • Received thawed • PPT Potassium EDTA (white-top) tube
Methodology
Enzymatic
Setup Schedule
24/7
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
Male: 27-102 ug/dL
Female: 19-87 ug/dL
Female: 19-87 ug/dL
Clinical Significance
Ammonia is one of the by-products of protein metabolism. Elevated blood ammonia levels have been associated with severe liver dysfunction such as hepatic encephalopathy, coma resulting from cirrhosis, severe hepatitis, Reye's syndrome and drug hepatotoxicity. Also, elevated blood ammonia has been reported in cardiac failure, azotemia, and pulmonary emphysema. Correlation between plasma ammonia and the degree of encephalopathy can be erratic.
