Ammonia

Overview

  • EPIC Code:
  • LAB47
  • Soft Test Code:
Alternate Names
  • NH3

Specimen Collection & Preparation

Specimen Requirements:

-OR-

3.0 mL Plasma from a Lavender Top Tube - EDTA
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL Plasma*

* This volume does not allow for repeat testing

Collection Instructions:

1. Place specimen in ice bath immediately after collection, before centrifugation

2. Keep on ice during transportation and deliver directly to testing laboratory


Processing Instructions:

Centrifuge and separate from cells within 20 minutes of collection

Freeze or place on ice immediately after centrifugation

Do not allow thawing.


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)


Transport and Storage:
  • Iced: 20 Minutes

    Whole blood is only stable 20 minutes iced

  • Ambient (18-24°C): 30 Minutes

    Plasma

  • Refrigerated (2-8°C): 2 Hours

    Plasma

  • Frozen (-20° C or colder): 3 Days

    Plasma

  • Ultra Frozen (-70° C or colder or by dry ice): At least 4 Weeks

    Plasma

-OR-

BRYAN/MONTPELIER ONLY- 1.0 mL Plasma from a PST Mint Green Top Tube - Lithium Heparin
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL Plasma*

* This volume does not allow for repeat testing

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


Transport and Storage:
  • Ambient (18-24°C): Not recommended
  • Refrigerated (2-8°C): ≤ 3 Hours
  • Frozen (-20° C or colder): ≤ 24 Hours

Clinical Interpretation

Reference Range:

11 - 32 umol/L


Methodology:
  • Enzymatic

Production Schedule

Sites Performed
  • Parkview Bryan Hospital
  • Parkview DeKalb Hospital
  • Parkview Huntington Hospital
  • Parkview Kosciusko Hospital
  • Parkview LaGrange Hospital
  • Parkview Logansport Hospital
  • Parkview Montpelier Hospital
  • Parkview Noble Hospital
  • Parkview Randallia Hospital
  • Parkview Regional Medical Center
  • Parkview Southwest
  • Parkview Wabash Hospital
  • Parkview Whitley Hospital
Days Performed
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Departments
  • Chemistry
Turn Around Time

Same Day/1 to 2 days


Stat Eligible

Coding & Compliance

CDM

01423644


CPT Coding

82140