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Ammonia
MessageFor Specimen Integrity during Extreme Weather see the “Lockbox Usage in Extreme Weather” document at the top of this page.
Test Code
NH3
Alias/See Also
70283;
NH3;
NH4;
NH4+;
Plasma Ammonia;
Ammonia Level
NH3;
NH4;
NH4+;
Plasma Ammonia;
Ammonia Level
CPT Codes
82140
Preferred Specimen
plasma K2EDTA (lavender top ) tube.
Minimum Volume
1 mL
Instructions
Obtain a venous blood specimen. Avoid hemolysis. Invert tube gently 3 to 5 times. Centrifuge the tube for 10 minutes. Transfer plasma to a plastic transport tube within 30 minutes of drawing.
If Unable to centrifuge and separate, patient must be referred to a CompuNet PSC for collection.
If Unable to centrifuge and separate, patient must be referred to a CompuNet PSC for collection.
Transport Container
K2EDTA (lavender top) tube
Transport Temperature
Frozen K2EDTA Plasma
Specimen Stability
Plasma separated from cells
Room Temperature = 30 minutes
Refrigerated = 2 hour
Frozen = 72 hours
Room Temperature = 30 minutes
Refrigerated = 2 hour
Frozen = 72 hours
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Hemolysis, Lipemia, incorrect specimen type, insufficient sample volume, improper storage conditions, exceeds specimen stability guidelines, contaminated sample.
Methodology
Spectrophotometric
Setup Schedule
24/7
AU
AU
Report Available
daily
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
CompuNet Clinical Laboratories, LLC
2308 Sandridge Drive
Moraine, OH 45439
Last Updated: August 4, 2022
