PLASMA AMMONIA
Purpose of the test:
Evaluates liver function
Helps monitor progression of severe liver disease and treatment
effectiveness
Diagnoses possibility of impending or established liver
failure
Patient preparation:
Don't eat any food or drink any liquid for at least 12 hours before
the test
Activity after test:
Liver disease may produce bleeding problems, so be sure bleeding
stops at the site where blood was drawn. If bleeding continues,
contact your doctor.
If plasma-ammonia levels are high, be aware of any signs indicating
an impending or established hepatic coma.
Time before test results available:
2 to 3 days
Normal values:
Plasma-ammonia levels are less than 50mcg/dl
What "high" or "increased" may indicate:
Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract
Congestive heart failure
Erythroblastosis fetalis
Reye's syndrome
Sever liver disease leading to hepatic coma
Taking these drugs may affect test results:
Acetazolamide
Ammonium salts
Furosemide
Danamycin
Lactulose
Neomycin
Thiazides
Other factors that may affect test results:
Portacaval shunt
Hyperalimentation
If tourniquet is applied on the arm too long (over 1 minute), it
may cause an inaccurate test result. Request another sample to
ensure accuracy.
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