CDOS

Ammonia, Plasma

Test Code: 007054

Performing Lab: LabCorp

CPT Code: 82140 001

Test Link (Copy)

Synonym

Blood Ammonia; Blood NH(3); NH(3); NH(4)

Specimen Type

Plasma, FROZEN

Specimen Container

Lavender-top (EDTA) tube; EDTA is the only acceptable anticoagulant.

Volume

1 mL

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL(NOTE: This volume does NOT allow for repeat testing.)

Specimen Handling

Tube must be filled completely and kept tightly stoppered at all times. Mix well. Specimen must be placed on ice immediately. Separate plasma from cells within 15 minutes of collection. Patient should NOT clench fist. Transfer specimen to plastic transport tube before freezing. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested. Avoid contamination of samples by ammonia from smoking or traffic in the laboratory or patient's room, glassware, or water.

Patient Prep

Patient should be fasting 12 to 14 hours to avoid lipemia, which interferes with the test.

Unacceptable Conditions

Hemolysis which increases plasma ammonia; specimen not received frozen; anticoagulants such as citrate, oxalate, ammonium heparin, or sodium fluoride (may cause spuriously high results); lithium heparin may cause spuriously low results; serum specimen (ammonia values in serum are significantly but variably higher than their corresponding plasma values, as ammonia may be generated during clotting); lipemia.

Temperature

FREEZE. Ammonia is stable for several days at -20(degrees)C. CAUTION: Blood ammonia increases rapidly at room temperature.

Methodology

Enzymatic

Stability

Room Temperature: Unstable (stability determined by manufacturer or literature reference)
Refrigerated: 2 hours (stability determined by manufacturer or literature reference)
Frozen: 3 days (stability determined by manufacturer or literature reference)

Result Code	Result Name	LOINC
007054	Ammonia, Plasma	22763-7

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