Question

To ensure an accurate ammonia level result, the specimen should be:

a. Incubated at 37oC prior to testing
b. Spun and separated immediately, tested as routine
c. Spun, separated, iced, and tested immediately
d. Stored at room temperature until tested

Answer 1

To ensure accurate ammonia level results, the specimen must be spun, separated, iced, and tested immediately to prevent any alteration in the ammonia concentration.

Step-by-step explanation:

To ensure an accurate ammonia level result, the specimen should be spun, separated, iced, and tested immediately. This procedure is crucial for preventing the breakdown of ammonia in the sample, which can occur quickly at higher temperatures. Immediate testing is particularly important to avoid false low or high readings that can occur due to the spontaneous generation or loss of ammonia when the sample is not handled properly.

Specimens like blood can experience changes in ammonia levels due to red blood cell metabolism if not chilled and separated from the cells quickly. The proper handling of specimens for ammonia testing often includes placing the specimen on ice right after collection, spinning it down to separate plasma or serum from the cells, and conducting the analysis as soon as possible. These steps are aligned with standard medical laboratory protocols to maintain sample integrity.