Ammonia, Blood - Saskatoon
Discipline
Biochemistry
Overview
Alias
- NH3
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Plasma
Specimen collection container
- Preferred collection container: Dark green (Lithium Heparin-NO gel)
Collection procedure
- Patient should not smoke prior to sampling
- Collection container should be filled completely and placed immediately on ice
- Capillary collection tubes may be used
- Transport specimen immediately to the laboratory
- Whole blood sample must be centrifuged within 30 minutes of collection
- Centrifuged plasma must be received on ice in testing laboratory within 1 hour of collection. If this is not possible the sample must be aliquoted and frozen before sending.
Required volume
- Optimal volume: 4.0 mL full collection tube
- Minimum volume: 1.0 mL
(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.)
- Pediatric volume
Transport and stability
- 1 hour on ice
- Frozen specimens: 1 week
Rejection criteria
- Specimens received where the proper collection protocols were not followed
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria
Performance
Methodology
- Enzymatic assay
Days/times performed
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Maximum laboratory time
Results reporting
- In Hospital reported within 2 hours
- Community urgent and inter-hospital reported within 4 hours
- Community routine reported within 24 hours
Specimen retention time
- 3 days
Last Updated: February 18, 2026