To detect an elevated level of ammonia in the blood that may be caused by severe liver disease, kidney failure, or certain rare genetic disorders; to help investigate the cause of changes in behavior and consciousness; to help diagnose hepatic encephalopathy or Reye syndrome
Ammonia
Ammonia
Also Known As
NH3
Formal Name
Ammonia, plasma
This article was last reviewed
on
This article waslast modified
on July 19, 2019.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
When To Get Tested?
When someone with or without liver disease or kidney failure experiences mental changes or lapses into a coma; when a newborn experiences frequent vomiting and increased lethargy or when a child has continuous vomiting and unusual sleepiness during recovery from a viral illness, such as the flu or chickenpox
Sample Required?
A blood sample drawn from a vein
Test Preparation Needed?
None
Accordion Title
Common Questions
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How is the test used?
The ammonia test is used to detect an elevated level in the blood. It may be ordered, along with other tests such as glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function tests, to investigate the cause of changes in your behavior and consciousness or to help support the diagnosis of Reye syndrome or hepatic encephalopathy caused by various liver diseases.
Some healthcare practitioners use the ammonia test to monitor the effectiveness of treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, but there is not widespread agreement on this use. Since hepatic encephalopathy can be caused by the build-up of a variety of toxins in the blood and brain, blood ammonia levels correlate poorly with the severity of the condition.
An ammonia level may also be ordered to help diagnose certain rare genetic disorders. For example, it may be used to diagnose a urea cycle defect, to evaluate the severity of the urea cycle impairment in this condition, and also to monitor treatment.
For more on Reye syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy, and urea cycle disorders, see the links in the Related Content section below.
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When is it ordered?
An ammonia test may be order when you experience signs and symptoms of an elevated ammonia level, such as:
- Mental changes, disorientation
- Sleepiness
- Change in consciousness
- Coma
The above symptoms can occur with and without liver disease or kidney failure. In you have stable liver disease, an ammonia level may be ordered, along with other liver function tests, when you suddenly become acutely ill.An ammonia test may be ordered when a newborn has signs and symptoms that arise in the first few days after birth, such as:
- Irritability
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Seizures
An ammonia test may be performed when a child develops these same symptoms during recovery from a viral illness, such as influenza or chickenpox, to rule out Reye syndrome. -
What does the test result mean?
A significantly increased level of ammonia in the blood indicates that your body is not effectively processing and eliminating ammonia and it may be the cause of your signs and symptoms.
In children and adults, an elevated ammonia level may indicate that severe liver or kidney damage has affected the body's ability to clear ammonia and that the brain may be affected. Frequently, an acute or chronic illness will act as a trigger, increasing ammonia levels to the point that an affected person has difficulty clearing the ammonia.
In infants, high levels might indicate impairment of the urea cycle due to a rare genetic disorder such as a deficiency of one of the urea cycle enzymes, or may also be seen with hemolytic disease of the newborn. Moderate, temporary increases in ammonia are relatively common in newborns, where the level may rise and fall without causing noticeable symptoms. (For more about urea cycle disorders, see the links in the Related Content section below.)
An increased ammonia and low glucose in combination with elevated levels of certain liver enzymes may indicate the presence of Reye syndrome in symptomatic children and teens. An increased level may also indicate a previously undiagnosed enzymatic defect of the urea cycle.
A normal blood ammonia level may mean that your signs and symptoms are due to a cause other than excess ammonia. However, normal levels of ammonia do not rule out hepatic encephalopathy. Other breakdown products can contribute to changes in mental function and consciousness, and brain levels of ammonia may be much higher than blood levels. This can make correlation of symptoms to ammonia blood levels difficult.
A decreased level of ammonia may be seen with some types of hypertension, such as essential (high blood pressure of unknown cause) and malignant (very high blood pressure that occurs suddenly and quickly).
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Is there anything else I should know?
Increased levels of ammonia may also be seen with:
- Gastrointestinal bleeding – blood cells are hemolyzed in the intestines, releasing protein.
- Muscular exertion – muscles produce ammonia when active and absorb it when resting.
- Tourniquet use – ammonia levels can be increased in the blood sample collected.
- High protein intake – high protein diet might trigger ammonia accumulation in some patients.
- Prematurity – in rare cases, very high ammonia levels can be seen in premature babies with respiratory distress.
- Use of certain drugs, including alcohol, barbiturates, diuretics, high-dose chemotherapy, valproic acid, and narcotics
- Cigarette smoking
Decreased levels of ammonia may be seen with the use of some antibiotics, such as neomycin and metronidazole.Ammonia tests can also be performed on blood from an artery, but this is much less common than using blood from a vein. Some healthcare practitioners feel that arterial ammonia measurements are more clinically useful, but there is not widespread agreement on this.
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Is ammonia testing used to detect or monitor ammonia poisoning?
Not generally. In most cases, ammonia acts locally, burning or irritating whatever it comes in contact with, but according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), it does not usually act as a systemic poison. Concentrated commercial ammonia, in a liquid or vapor form, can cause more severe burns than the more dilute liquid household ammonia, but both can damage the eyes, skin, respiratory tract, and, if swallowed, the mouth, throat, and stomach.
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When my increased ammonia level has returned to normal, can it rise again?
It depends on why it was increased in the first place. If you had a temporary condition, then it is likely that the ammonia level will continue to be normal. If you have a chronic condition, then it is possible that it will increase again and your health status will likely need to be monitored. Talk to your healthcare provider about what is best for you.