Ammonia Blood Test Overview

### Ammonia Blood Test

• Measures the amount of ammonia in the blood
• Ammonia is created by the breakdown of protein
• The liver converts ammonia to urea, which is excreted in urine
• Normal range is 6-47 mcmol/L
• Used to diagnose severe liver diseases
• High ammonia levels can indicate liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatitis), Reye syndrome, heart failure, kidney failure, severe bleeding from the stomach or intestines
• Low ammonia levels can indicate essential or malignant hypertension
• Factors that can interfere with the test results:
  • Smoking
  • Eating a high-protein or low-protein diet
  • Drugs that increase blood ammonia (e.g., Loop diuretics, narcotics, thiazides, alcohol)
  • Drugs that decrease blood ammonia (e.g., broad spectrum antibiotics, levodopa, potassium salts)
  • Strenuous exercise before the test