Ammonia
A byproduct of protein metabolism that climbs when the liver can no longer clear it.
Consider this test if:
- Confusion, drowsiness, disorientation, or tremor in someone with known or suspected liver disease
- Monitoring hepatic encephalopathy or the response to treatment for it
- Investigating unexplained altered mental status where a metabolic cause is on the table
- Evaluating a child or adult for a suspected urea cycle or other inherited metabolic disorder
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Results delivered to your dashboard · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Draw is usually done fasting, and you should avoid smoking before the test, since smoking and recent exercise can raise ammonia. The result depends heavily on rapid, cold handling: the sample is collected in an EDTA tube, kept on ice, and processed quickly, because ammonia climbs at room temperature and gives falsely high readings if delayed.
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What this test is for
Ammonia is produced when the body breaks down protein, and a healthy liver converts it to urea for excretion. Elevated plasma ammonia is most strongly linked to serious liver dysfunction, including hepatic encephalopathy, cirrhosis, severe hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, and Reye's syndrome, and it is often checked when confusion, disorientation, lethargy, or altered consciousness accompanies known or suspected liver disease. Levels can also rise in heart failure, kidney impairment with azotemia, and certain inherited metabolic disorders. The correlation between ammonia and the depth of encephalopathy is imperfect, so the result is read alongside the clinical picture rather than used as a stand-alone severity score. Sample handling matters more here than for most tests: ammonia rises quickly after collection unless the specimen is kept cold and processed fast.
- Specimen
- Plasma
- Measures
- Substance concentration
What you'll learn
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Insights that connect the dots. A clinician reads your whole picture, not one result in isolation, connecting family history, past results, and lifestyle into clear next steps.
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Your personalized action plan. Nutrition, supplements, and training in one clinician-reviewed protocol, updated as your results change.
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Track your trends. Upload results from any lab and see each biomarker trend over time, so you know what is working.
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Never miss a recheck. Mito tells you what is worth retesting and when, then reminds you so nothing slips.
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Fast, dashboard-delivered results
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
Everything your health needs,
in one membership
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Every test at our cost
Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
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Continuous tracking, all in one place
Upload past labs and watch your trends over time. Every marker and visit lives in one longitudinal record, so all your care stays together.
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Year-round clinician support
Text anytime and get clinician-reviewed answers. When you want to go deeper, 1:1 consultations are available at affordable rates.
All for $9/month
Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost, covering the lab and what it takes to run the service. It is never a profit on the test itself. Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9 per month, and any applicable lab order or draw fee is itemized before you pay.
Where do I get tested?
Choose an available partner lab at checkout. If your cart contains multiple blood tests, Mito helps consolidate the eligible tests at one lab when possible. At-home kits and scans follow the collection or appointment process shown on their product page.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. Eligible tests can be paid for with an HSA or FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results appear in your Mito dashboard after the laboratory completes processing. A clinician then reviews them before your analysis and personalized action plan are finalized. Timing varies by test, and specialty assays and at-home kits may take longer.
Do I need a physician's order?
No. Mito provides the laboratory order when one is required, so you do not need to arrange a separate physician visit before purchasing.
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