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Ammonia
MessagePerforming Lab: Lakeview, Hudson, Regions,Westfields
Test Code
0422
Alias/See Also
Sunquest: AMMON; NH3
CPT Codes
82140
Preferred Specimen
0.2 mL Lithium Heparin Plasma (light green-top) tube on ICE
Minimum Volume
0.1 mL
Instructions
Processing:
Centrifuge specimens and remove the plasma from the cellular material within 15 minutes of collection. Keep on ice until analysis
Centrifuge specimens and remove the plasma from the cellular material within 15 minutes of collection. Keep on ice until analysis
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated or Frozen-See Specimen Stability
Specimen Stability
Room Temperature: Not Recommended
Refrigerated: stable for < 2 hours at 2-8 C
Frozen: stable for < 3 weeks if frozen at -20 C
Refrigerated: stable for < 2 hours at 2-8 C
Frozen: stable for < 3 weeks if frozen at -20 C
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Not Collected on Ice
Hemolyzed samples
Hemolyzed samples
Methodology
Colorimetric or Enzymatic (Lakeview)
Setup Schedule
Daily
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
| 18-72 umol/L | |
Clinical Significance
Ammonia is a waste product of protein catabolism; it is potentially toxic to the central nervous system. Increased plasma ammonia may be indicative of hepatic encephalopathy, hepatic coma in terminal stages of liver cirrhosis, hepatic failure, acute and subacute liver necrosis, and Reye’s syndrome. Hyperammonemia may also be found with increasing dietary protein intake.
