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Test Code AMMON Ammonia

Important Note

ATTENTION: There are site specific collection, transport and storage and stability requirements for this test.

Specimen Type

Blood

Collection Instructions

Ideally, completely fill an appropriate tube (no gel) with whole blood. Mix by gentle inversion and keep tightly stoppered at all times. Place on ice immediately after draw. Transport to lab immediately after drawing.

Collection Volume

3 ml Tube-Completely Filled

Minimum Collection Volume

3 ml Tube-Completely Filled

Testing Volume

0.1 mL plasma (100 ul)

Rejection Criteria

Specimen not drawn in appropriate anticoagulant, tubes with gel-barrier, microtainers; Specimens not drawn on ice; Improper labeling; Specimens that are grossly lipemic; Specimens that are hemolyzed; Specimens that have exceeded their stability limits; Samples that have been frozen.

Specimen Storage and Stability

Hospital   SITE SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS
Toledo LAV-ICE (EDTA) plasma on ice: 3 hours. 
Coldwater LAV-ICE (EDTA) plasma on ice: 3 hours. 
Flower LAV-ICE (EDTA) plasma on ice: 3 hours. 
Monroe LAV-ICE (EDTA) plasma on ice: 3 hours. 
Bay Park LAV-ICE (EDTA) or GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin--No Gel) specimen must be analyzed within 30 minutes.
C.V. Hickman  LAV-ICE (EDTA) or GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin--No Gel) specimen must be analyzed within 30 minutes.
Defiance LAV-ICE (EDTA) or GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin--No Gel) specimen must be analyzed within 30 minutes.
Fostoria LAV-ICE (EDTA) or GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin--No Gel) specimen must be analyzed within 30 minutes.
Fremont Memeorial  LAV-ICE (EDTA) or GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin--No Gel) specimen must be analyzed within 30 minutes.

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday, 24 hours

Ordering Info

Ammonia is a waste product of protein catabolism; it is potentially toxic to the central nervous system. Increased plasma ammonia may be indicative of hepatic encephalopathy, hepatic coma in terminal stages of liver cirrhosis, hepatic failure, acute and subacute liver necrosis, and Reye’s syndrome. Hyperammonemia may also be found with increasing dietary protein intake. The major cause of hyperammonemia in infants includes inherited deficiencies of urea cycle enzymes, inherited metabolic disorders of organic acids and the dibasic amino acids lysine and ornithine, and severe liver disease.

EPIC Code

LAB47

Acceptable Collection Container

Hospital Acceptable Container
Toledo LAV-ICE (EDTA)
Coldwater LAV-ICE (EDTA)
Flower LAV-ICE (EDTA)
Monroe LAV-ICE (EDTA)
Bay Park LAV-ICE (EDTA), GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin - No Gel)
C.V. Hickman LAV-ICE (EDTA), GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin - No Gel)
Defiance LAV-ICE (EDTA), GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin - No Gel)
Fostoria LAV-ICE (EDTA), GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin - No Gel)
Fremont Memorial LAV-ICE (EDTA), GRN-ICE (Lithium Heparin - No Gel)

 

Additional Information

Poor venipuncture technique may result in increased ammonia levels. Use of a heparin lock, probing for a vein, drawing blood into a syringe and transferring it to an anticoagulated tube, or partial fill of the evacuated tube, allowing subsequent entry of air, may cause elevation of ammonia levels

Transport

Hospital

 SITE SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS
Toledo

Transport on ice to lab immediately after drawing, centrifuge and

separate plasma from cells as soon as possible, place separated plasma on ice (2-8 C).

Samples should NOT be frozen.
Coldwater

Transport on ice to lab immediately after drawing, centrifuge and

separate plasma from cells as soon as possible, place separated plasma on ice (2-8 C).

Samples should NOT be frozen.
Flower

Transport on ice to lab immediately after drawing, centrifuge and 

separate plasma from cells as soon as possible, place separated plasma on ice (2-8C). 

Samples should NOT be frozen.
Monroe

Transport on ice to lab immediately after drawing, centrifuge and 

separate plasma from cells as soon as possible, place separated plasma on ice (2-8C).

Samples should NOT be frozen.
Bay Park

Centrifuge immediately and analyze within 30 minutes.

Samples should NOT be frozen. The tubes should be tightly stoppered at all times.
C.V. Hickman 

Centrifuge immediately and analyze within 30 minutes.

Samples should NOT be frozen. The tubes should be tightly stoppered at all times.
Defiance

Centrifuge immediately and analyze within 30 minutes.

Samples should NOT be frozen. The tubes should be tightly stoppered at all times.
Fostoria

Centrifuge immediately and analyze within 30 minutes.

Samples should NOT be frozen. The tubes should be tightly stoppered at all times.
Fremont Memorial 

Centrifuge immediately and analyze within 30 minutes.

Samples should NOT be frozen. The tubes should be tightly stoppered at all times.

 

Turn Around Time

40 minutes

Lab Department

Chemistry

CPT

82140