Ammonia Test- Why am I having this test?
Ammonia testing is used to help diagnose and monitor severe liver diseases. It is also used to diagnose and monitor a brain disorder that can develop in individuals who have liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy).
What is being tested?
This test measures the levels of ammonia in the blood. Ammonia levels can rise when the liver and kidneys are not working well enough to get rid of urea. Urea is produced by the liver when it breaks down proteins from food.
A buildup of ammonia in the body can cause mental and neurological changes that can lead to confusion, disorientation, sleepiness, and eventually coma and even death. Infants and children with increased ammonia levels may become irritable, may vomit often, and may become increasingly lethargic. If ammonia levels stay too high, they may experience seizures and breathing difficulties, and may go into a coma and die.
What kind of sample is taken?
A blood sample is needed for this test. It is usually collected by inserting a needle into a blood vessel.
How do I prepare for this test?
Follow instructions from your health care provider or your child’s health care provider about avoiding the following before the test:
- Exercise.
- Smoking cigarettes.
- Certain medicines. Ask your health care provider what medicines to avoid.
How are the results reported?
The test results will be reported as ranges. The health care provider will compare the results to normal ranges that were established after testing a large group of people (reference ranges). Reference ranges may vary among labs and hospitals. For this test, common reference ranges are:
- Adult: 10–80 mcg/dL or 6–47 micromol/L (SI units).
- Child: 40–80 mcg/dL.
- Newborn: 90–150 mcg/dL.
What do the results mean?
Increased levels of ammonia may mean that you have or your child has:
- Liver disease.
- Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding or GI obstruction.
- Severe heart failure.
- Hemolytic disease of the newborn.
- Hepatic encephalopathy.
- A genetic metabolic disorder.
- Reye syndrome.
Decreased levels of ammonia may mean that you have or your child has:
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- A genetic metabolic syndrome.
Talk with the health care provider about what the results mean.
Questions to ask your health care provider
Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:
- When will my results be ready?
- How will I get my results?
- What are my treatment options?
- What other tests do I need?
- What are my next steps?
Summary
- Ammonia testing is used to help diagnose and monitor severe liver diseases.
- This test measures the levels of ammonia in the blood. Ammonia levels can rise when the liver and kidneys are not working well enough to get rid of urea. Urea is produced by the liver when it breaks down proteins from food.
- A buildup of ammonia in the body can cause mental and neurological changes that can lead to confusion, disorientation, sleepiness, and eventually coma and even death.
