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Ammonia

Important Note

As of 5-8-2024 unit of measure changed from mcg/dL to mcmol/L. 

Additional Codes

Epic# -

LAB47

 

Cerner name(s):

  • Ammonia level
  • Ammonia
  • NH4
  • NH3 

Performing Lab(s)

Memorial-Belleville & Memorial-Shiloh

Specimen Requirement (s)

Specimen Type: plasma

Container/Tube:    lavender (EDTA) tube

Specimen Volume:     2 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume:  Tube must be more than 3/4 full.

 

Collection Instructions:

  1. Notify laboratory department before collecting specimen.
  2. Collect in a chilled vacutainer tube or, if collected in syringe, transfer to chilled vacutainer (sealed) immediately.
  3. Place tube on ice and transport on ice.
  4. Tube must be more than 3/4 full.
  5. Must be brought to lab immediately after draw (within 5 minutes).

Unacceptable Conditions

  • Avoid hemolysis.  
  • Not on ice
  • Not in sealed container
  • Received in lab > 20 minutes after draw.

Day(s)/Shift(s) Test Set Up and Turnaround Time

Sunday through Saturday

Hours: 24 hours 

 

Turnaround Time:

STAT: 60 minutes

Routine: less than 4 hours from receipt.

Transport and Stability

Transport temperature: Refrigerated

 

Analyte Stability: 

Ambient: NA

Refrigerated: 20 minutes on cells; 3 hours once separated

Frozen: NA

Reference Values

Age

Reference Values

< 2 months old

> 2 months old

< 90 mcmol/L

< 50 mcmol/L

CPT/LOINC Codes

82140