What Is a Normal Ammonia Level?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 31, 2020

A person’s normal ammonia level typically ranges between 15 to 45 micrograms per deciliter. To determine these levels, an ammonia blood test is performed.

Many factors can cause a person’s blood ammonia levels to be high, including medications that increase these levels and a high-protein diet. However, abnormally high level of ammonia in the blood may be a sign of different medical conditions, such as liver failure, hypokalemia, congestive heart failure, leukemia and hyperthermia.

Before taking an ammonia blood test, a doctor instructs patients that they should not eat or drink for a certain period of time, typically 8 to 12 hours. However, only a doctor can give medical instructions, diagnoses and treatments for any medical condition.