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Test Code AMMON Ammonia

Important Note

For internal ordering only. Not available to outreach clients.

Useful For

Ammonia measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of severe liver disorders such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and Reye's syndrome.

Synonyms/Keywords

NH3

Specimen Requirements

Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No Plasma Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT)   1 mL 0.5 mL  

Collection/Processing Instructions

Per a product notification from the reagent vendor, frozen ammonia samples are not stable and will no longer be accepted.  

 

Marshfield Campus: 
1. Draw heparinized venous or arterial blood. Indicate collection time on tube.
2. Immediately place tube in ice water, deliver to lab within 15 minutes.
3. Centrifuge cooled tube for 5 minutes.
4. Give centrifuged specimen to 24 Hour Lab personnel immediately.

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Plasma Refrigerate 30 min
 

Rejection Criteria

Samples drawn in PST tubes
Hemolysis greater than a trace
Frozen samples are not stable and will no longer be accepted

Interferences

Sulfasalazine may interfere with Dimension Vista Ammonia assay (Weston) and cause falsely increased results.

 

For patients receiving treatment, venipuncture should occur prior to drug administration to prevent this interference.

Reference Range Information

Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites Using Beckman AU Analyzers

 ≤30 days:               ≤ 109 umol/L    

 >30 days:             16 - 53 umol/L
See Critical Value Policy for list of current critical values.

Marshfield Labs Performing Department

Marshfield Labs Chemistry

Performing Information

Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Beaver Dam Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
Weston Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
Eau Claire Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
Park Falls Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
Ladysmith Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
Rice Lake Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
Marshfield Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
Minocqua Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
Neillsville Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
Stevens Point Monday through Sunday Less than 2 hours Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU 

CPT Codes

CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
82140    1    

Ordering Applications

 

Ordering Application Description
Cerner Ammonia Level