Ammonia Blood Test - Book at an Affordable Cost

What is an ammonia test?

Ammonia (NH3) is a waste product which is produced by the healthy bacteria present in the intestine in our body. It is produced during the digestion of the proteins. After this, the liver changes ammonia into urea which is then excreted by the kidney out of the body. the process of removal of urea from the body is called urea cycle.

This urea cycle prevents the buildup of ammonia in the healthy individual. However, due to some underlying conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease or any other severe illness that causes the buildup of ammonia in the body and this ammonia is toxic to our body even a slight increase in the ammonia level can cause brain damage coma etc.

An ammonia test is a simple blood test which is done to determine the level of ammonia in the body.

Other names: NH3 test, ammonia blood test, serum ammonia test.

Purpose of the ammonia blood test

Ammonia test helps in diagnosing the levels of ammonia in the symptomatic patients however it can diagnose the cause associated with the increased ammonia level. The purpose of the ammonia test is listed below.

• Ammonia blood tests can help in diagnosing hepatic encephalopathy. It is a condition when there is a build-up of ammonia due to the inability of the liver to break it down. This high level of ammonia then causes damage to the brain and causes symptoms such as coma, confusion, memory loss etc.
• Ammonia blood tests can help in diagnosing the condition of urea cycle disorder, a high level of ammonia is due to the disorder in the urea cycle. Urea cycle disorders are the genetic disorder
• Ammonia blood tests are useful in Monitoring the treatment effectiveness and help the physicians in deciding whether the treatment is working or not and if there’s a need to change the therapy of the person.

Who needs an ammonia blood test?

Individuals who are showing the symptoms mentioned below might need an ammonia blood test

• Problem with muscle coordination
• Memory loss and confusion
• Irritability
• Developmental delay in children
• Irritability
• Fatigue 
• Headache 
• Family history of problems with ammonia

Elevated levels of ammonia may be seen in newborn babies within 3 days after the birth. The infant may have difficulty breathing and make a grunting sound while breathing. If the symptoms mentioned above are noticed in your child then make sure to book an ammonia blood test for your baby

Preparation required for the ammonia blood test

• Fasting is required for an ammonia blood test
• Avoid smoking and the consumption of alcohol before the test
• Avoid strenuous exercise before the test
• Tell your doctor about your health condition and if you are on any medications.
• A newborn baby doesn't need to do any preparation.

Procedure for the ammonia blood test

Collection of blood samples from the vein

•  A lab technician will tie a rubber band around your arm to find a vein
• Then they will clean the skin using an alcohol swab
•  After this, a sterile needle is inserted into a vein to draw a blood sample you might feel a little sting when the needle is inserted into a vein
• After collecting the sample the needle is removed, and the sample is then sent to the lab for further analysis

Collection of blood samples from the artery

• In most of the blood tests the sample of the blood from the vein is taken, however sometimes in the ammonia blood test, the sample is taken from the artery.
• As blood sample collection from the artery is more discomforting than blood sample collection from the vein. your doctor may apply some numbing cream on the skin
• After this, the healthcare professional will insert a needle with a syringe into an artery to collect the blood sample
• After collecting the appropriate amount of sample the needle is removed and the puncture site is covered with the cotton bandage. A light pressure is applied to the puncture site for at least 5 minutes to avoid bleeding.
• After this, the sample is sent to the lab for further analysis

The procedure of blood sample collection in a newborn baby

• Sample collection will be done from the baby’s heel
• A lab technician will clean the baby's heel using an alcohol swab 
• After this, a small needle is pricked into the baby’s heel for the blood sample collection
• After this, the puncture site is covered with the bandage

Aftercare

No special care is needed after the procedure, just leave your dressing strip for at least 15 minutes.

Ammonia blood test normal range

The normal range of the ammonia blood test is 15-45 µ/dL

What does the ammonia blood test report mean

• High levels of ammonia mean that there is some underlying condition such as liver disease, urea cycle disorder etc which is causing the buildup of ammonia and it may also cause symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, coma etc.
• Low levels of ammonia might be due to kidney disease, hypertension etc.
• A normal level of ammonia means that there is no issue with the body.

Ammonia blood test price in Delhi

Ammonia blood test prices in Delhi may vary based on the location and the reputation of the diagnostic centre. The average price of an ammonia blood test in Delhi is around Rs 500-1000. You can book your ammonia blood test in Delhi with Ganesh Diagnostic Centre and get a discount of up to 50%.

Required documents 

>>A doctor's prescription.
>>A valid government ID.

Choose Ganesh Diagnostic Centre for ammonia blood tests at an affordable range

• Ganesh Diagnostic provides quality services at an affordable price. We have no competition when it comes to the pricing of the tests
• We are accredited with NABL 
• We provide 100% accurate result
• We are equipped with the latest technologies 
• We provide free home sample collection services.