Ammonia

Collection Instructions:

Pre-Chill tube before collection (this step is preferred, but not required)

Place specimen in ice bath immediately after collection

Due to smearing of print while on ice, please ice in the side pocket of the transport bag with, the specimen, second label, and requisition in the main pocket transport bag. 

Keep on ice during transportation and delivery to testing department

Processing Instructions:

Centrifuge and separate from cells within 20 minutes of collection

Freeze immediately after centrifugation

Rejection Criteria:

Specimen not kept directly on ice

Specimen delivered to lab in incorrect pocket of transport bag 

Thawed specimen

Capillary specimen

Collected in microtainer tube 

Gel Separator Tube (SST or PST)

Processing Instructions:

Centrifuge specimen and remove the plasma from the cellular material within 15 minutes of collection

Keep specimen on ice until analysis

Rejection Criteria:

Serum should not be used for ammonia measurements because ammonia is produced during the clotting process

Do not use hemolyzed specimens