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Ammonia

3026

cpt

normal turn-around time

assays included

specimen type

minimum required

AMON

82140

24 hours

AMON

Plasma

1 mL of heparinized or EDTA plasma

collection instructions

  • Collect blood in a Lithium heparin or EDTA tube

  • Centrifuge and separate plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection.

  • Transport the specimen at 2-8°C if not tested within 2 hours.

collection instructions

  • Hemolysis: Red blood cell destruction can falsely increase glucose levels.

  • Improper Labeling: Specimen must be labeled with at least two patient identifiers.

  • Insufficient Quantity: Volume less than 1 mL may not be sufficient for accurate testing.

  • Lipemia: Excessive fat in the blood can interfere with certain test results.

clinical significance

The Ammonia test measures the amount of ammonia in the blood. Elevated ammonia levels can indicate liver dysfunction, such as hepatic encephalopathy, Reye's syndrome, or inborn errors of metabolism. This test is used to diagnose and monitor conditions that affect the liver's ability to convert ammonia to urea, which is then excreted by the kidneys.

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