| Ordering Code | 460 |
|---|---|
| Test Name | Ammonia |
| Alias | NH3 AMMON |
| Preferred Specimen | Plasma |
| Preferred Container | EDTA, K2 (Lavender) |
| Other Specimen/Container | None |
| Optimum Volume | Full tube |
| Collection Instructions | Draw full tube. Immediately after collection, place tube in wet ice. |
| Handling Instructions | Hospital draws: Send tightly capped specimen on wet ice to the testing lab within 1 hour of draw. Lab will receive, centrifuge, and test immediately. If testing is delayed, plasma is aliquoted from cells and stored appropriately Other draw sites: Immediately after collection, place on wet ice, centrifuge specimen, aliquot / tightly cap and freeze. |
| Transport Requirements | Oahu: Frozen (Aliquot) Airline: Frozen (Aliquot) |
| Specimen Stability | Refrigerated: 3 Hours (Aliquot) Frozen at -15 to -25 C: 3 Days Frozen at -60 to -90 C: At least 4 weeks Frozen samples should be thawed only once. |
| Rejection Criteria | Insufficient quantity, Specimen older than stability limits, Specimen/aliquot tube not capped or loosely capped, Uncentrifuged specimen not received on wet ice, Specimen Clotted, Hemolyzed, Aliquoted specimen not sent/received frozen |
| Avail. Stat | YES |
| Analytic Time | 1 Day |
| Methodology | Enzymatic - glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) |
Reference range(s)
The reference ranges listed below are valid on this date of March 14, 2026.
| Component | Age | Male Norm | Male Critical Low | Male Critical High | Female Norm | Female Critical High | Female Critical Low | Units | Add'l info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | ALL | 18-72 | 18-72 | umol/L |