Ammonia, Plasma


Sunquest Code:AMMON  
Epic Code:LAB47Epic Name:Ammonia
Synonyms:NH3
Methodology:Bichromatic rate
St Johns/St Joseph/Woodwinds: Enzymatic (glutamate dehydrogenase)
Turnaround Time:Performed and reported 24 hours/day.
Special Instructions:Delay in separation introduces more variation than delay in testing once separated. Process sample within 15 minutes of collection. Samples must be placed on wet ice immediately upon collection. Instant cold packs are unacceptable.


Collection Instructions

Specimen:Blood
Optimal Volume:2.5 mL
Minimum\Peds Volume:0.6 mL
Container:Green (lithium heparin, gel), St Johns/St Joseph/Woodwinds-Green (lithium heparin, no gel) (Purple (EDTA))
Collection Instructions:
 
  • Cleanse site thoroughly.
  • If possible, collect directly into vacutainer tube (with gel) without removing stopper; fill tube completely. Capillary draws are unacceptable.
  • Place sample on wet ice immediately upon collection. Instant cold packs are unacceptable.
  • For inpatients: Deliver sample to laboratory within 5 minutes of collection. UMMC West Only: Specimens should be walked directly to laboratory upon completion of collection.
  • For outpatients: Process sample within 15 minutes of collection. See Processing and Shipping Instructions below.
  • For Outreach clients: Deliver sample within 15 minutes of collection to nearest laboratory for processing. If sample cannot be processed within 15 minutes of collection, the patient must be drawn at a facility with a centrifuge.
 
Causes for Rejection:Hemolyzed, lipemic or grossly icteric specimens or specimens collected by capillary collection.
Whole blood not on placed on wet ice after collection. Whole blood samples not processed within 15 minutes of collection. Plasma samples greater than 2 hours old and/or not placed on wet ice and refrigerated. Frozen plasma more than 6 hours from collection.
Do not use instant ice packs.


Processing and Shipping

Specimen Processing:Within 15 minutes of collection, centrifuge and aliquot 1.25 mL, 0.2 mL minimum, at refrigerated temperature if possible. Place plasma on wet ice and refrigerate up to 2 hours. Alternatively, frozen samples are stable for 6 hours from the time of collection. Do not freeze the original collection container.
Shipping Instructions:Ship plasma at refrigerated temperature on wet ice to arrive within 2 hours of collection. Outreach clients: Freeze samples and ship to arrive within 6 hours of collection. Use stat courier if longer transport distance is indicated.
Stability:Placed on wet ice and refrigerated: Up to 2 hours. Frozen - 6 hours.
Test Performed at or Referral Lab Chemistry  (Range, UMMC-East Bank, Lakes, Ridges, Northland, Southdale, UMMC/UMMCH-West Bank, M Health Clinic and Surgery Center, Grand Itasca, St. Joseph's, St. John's, Woodwinds)


Interpretive

Critical Range:Greater than 100 umol/L
Range: Greater than 50 umol/L
Reference Range:10-50 umol/L
Grand Itasca: 16-53 umol/L
St Johns/St Joseph/Woodwinds: 11-35 umol/L
Use:Evaluation of suspected hepatic disease.


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