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Test Code AMM.1 AMMONIA

Important Note

NO AMMONIUM HEPARIN TUBES OR HEMOLYSIS

Specimen must be put on wet ice immediately after collection and received within 15 minutes of collection.

Hemolyzed specimens should not be used as erythrocytes (RBC's) contain ammonia levels approximately three times that of plasma. Rapid separation of plasma from blood cells is critical for obtaining reliable results. 

Additional Codes

N.AMMONIA

Methodology

Automated Chemistry Analyzer (ALINITY)

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Plasma
Container/Tube: Lithium Heparin (preferred), Sodium Heparin & EDTA (acceptable)
Specimen Volume: 1 mL (minimum 0.5)
Collection Instructions: 

  1. Collect venous or arterial sample.
  2. Deliver specimen directly to hospital laboratory. Specimen must be submitted on wet ice and received within 15 minutes of collection.
  3. Properly label tube with patient's name, DOB, requisition number, and type of tube drawn i.e. LiHep or NaHep etc.

Specimen Transport/Stability

Refrigerated: 2 hours on ice, capped. Spin within 15 min.

Frozen: 3 weeks

Specimen Rejection

1. Hemolysis

2. Capillary samples

3. Serum

4. Exceeding stability requirements

5. Unlabeled/mislabeled specimen

Maximum Laboratory Time

24 - 48 hours

Reference Ranges

    Ammonia
  Normal Range                                                        31- 123  ug/dL
   Critical  Value                        REFER TO LH-W CRITICAL VALUES POLICY  

 

Day(s) Test Set Up

Daily

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82140