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22234 Ammonia

Ammonia
Test Code: AMMON
Synonyms/Keywords
NH3​
Useful For
Ammonia measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of severe liver disorders such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and Reye’s syndrome.​
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
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.
 
All Other Facilities:
A control specimen from a healthy subject should also be collected if possible. Patient and normal control (if collected) must be processed as follows:
1. Draw heparinized venous or arterial blood (GTT).
2. Place tube immediately in ice water mixture to slow metabolic process.
3. Centrifuge cooled tube for 5 minutes.
4. Immediately remove from cells and freeze at least 1 mL plasma. Label patient specimen tube with patient
    name and "Ammonia". Label control specimen tube with "Ammonia control". Freezing should be started
    immediately. Indicate "frozen" to courier and specimen will be placed on dry ice to complete freezing
5. Collection time must be indicated on requisition.​
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Plasma​ ​ Refrigerate​ 30 min​
Frozen​ 48 hours​
Rejection Criteria
Samples drawn in PST tubes​
​Hemolysis greater than a trace
Interference
​Sulfasalazine may interfere with Dimension Vista Ammonia assay (Weston Center - DTC lab) and cause falsely increased results.
For patients receiving treatment, venipuncture should occur prior to drug administration to prevent this interference.
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours ​Photometric/Siemens Dimension Vista
​Eau Claire ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours Photometric/Siemens Dimension​
​Flambeau Hospital ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours ​Photometric/Siemens Dimension
​Ladysmith Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours ​Photometric/Siemens Dimension
​Lakeview Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours ​Photometric/Siemens Dimension
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​Photometric/Siemens Dimension​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
Diagnostic & Treatment Center​ ​0-2 months:             10-100 µmol/L  
>2 months- <1 year: 10-55  µmol/L
>=1 year:                 13-45  µmol/L
Marshfield
 <=30 days:               <= 109 µmol/L 
   >30 days:              16 – 53 µmol/L
All Other Performing Sites​ ​​0-2 months:             <= 100 µmol/L
>2 months:              <= 32 µmol/L
See Critical Value Policy for list of current critical values.​ ​
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
82140  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
NH3​
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity ​Ammonia
​Cerner ​Ammonia Level (COMMON)
​COM ​Ammonia
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
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
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.
 
All Other Facilities:
A control specimen from a healthy subject should also be collected if possible. Patient and normal control (if collected) must be processed as follows:
1. Draw heparinized venous or arterial blood (GTT).
2. Place tube immediately in ice water mixture to slow metabolic process.
3. Centrifuge cooled tube for 5 minutes.
4. Immediately remove from cells and freeze at least 1 mL plasma. Label patient specimen tube with patient
    name and "Ammonia". Label control specimen tube with "Ammonia control". Freezing should be started
    immediately. Indicate "frozen" to courier and specimen will be placed on dry ice to complete freezing
5. Collection time must be indicated on requisition.​
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Plasma​ ​ Refrigerate​ 30 min​
Frozen​ 48 hours​
Rejection Criteria
Samples drawn in PST tubes​
​Hemolysis greater than a trace
Interference
​Sulfasalazine may interfere with Dimension Vista Ammonia assay (Weston Center - DTC lab) and cause falsely increased results.
For patients receiving treatment, venipuncture should occur prior to drug administration to prevent this interference.
Useful For
Ammonia measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of severe liver disorders such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and Reye’s syndrome.​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
Diagnostic & Treatment Center​ ​0-2 months:             10-100 µmol/L  
>2 months- <1 year: 10-55  µmol/L
>=1 year:                 13-45  µmol/L
Marshfield
 <=30 days:               <= 109 µmol/L 
   >30 days:              16 – 53 µmol/L
All Other Performing Sites​ ​​0-2 months:             <= 100 µmol/L
>2 months:              <= 32 µmol/L
See Critical Value Policy for list of current critical values.​ ​
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours ​Photometric/Siemens Dimension Vista
​Eau Claire ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours Photometric/Siemens Dimension​
​Flambeau Hospital ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours ​Photometric/Siemens Dimension
​Ladysmith Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday ​Less than 2 hours ​Photometric/Siemens Dimension
​Lakeview Medical Center ​Monday through Sunday​ ​Less than 2 hours ​Photometric/Siemens Dimension
Marshfield​ Monday through Sunday​ Less than 2 hours​ Enzymatic Glutamate Dehydrogenase/Beckman AU
​Neillsville​Monday through Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​Photometric/Siemens Dimension​
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
82140  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.