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Ammonia, Plasma : 5509
Test CodeAMMAU or 5509
CPT Codes
82140
Instructions
Collect blood from stasis-free vein of patient (e.g., no tourniquet). Patient should not clench fist during collection, as muscular exertion often increases venous ammonia levels. Patient should avoid smoking prior to phlebotomy since smoking increases plasma ammonia levels. Tubes should be filled completely and kept tightly stoppered at all times. Place immediately on ice. Separate plasma from cells within 15 minutes and freeze plasma immediately.
Transport Container
Preferred Specimen
2 mL frozen plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
2 mL frozen plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Transport Temperature
Frozen.
Specimen Stability
Roon temperature: Unacceptable; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: 24 hours
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolysis, Received thawed, PPT Potassium EDTA (white-top) tube
Methodology
Enzymatic
Setup Schedule
Sunday - Saturday
Report Available
1 day
Reference Range
< or = 72 umol/L
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.
Performing Laboratory
med fusion
