You'll be told to take ammonium chloride capsules by mouth for 3 days. Then, a urine and blood sample are taken. (The blood sample is needed to show that the ammonium chloride made the blood slightly acidic.) The laboratory measures the level of acid found in both samples.
For information on how the urine and blood samples are obtained, see:
Your doctor will tell you to take ammonium chloride capsules by mouth for 3 days prior to the test.
How the test will feel:
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Review Date: 10/15/2007
Reviewed By: Frank A. Greco, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Biophysical Laboratory, The Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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