Ammonia N-13
Ammonia N-13 is a radioactive positron-emitting tracer used in PET imaging to evaluate blood flow to the heart muscle. It is primarily employed to diagnose and assess coronary artery disease and myocardial perfusion abnormalities. Due to its short radioactive half-life of approximately 10 minutes, it must be produced on-site using a cyclotron and used promptly after preparation.
Ammonia N-13 is a PET radiotracer used for cardiac blood flow imaging to diagnose heart muscle perfusion problems.
Key facts at a glance
- RxNorm
- 1305558
- Generic
- Ammonia N-13
- Class
- pin-variant
- Brands
- —
- Availability
- rx
- Lactation
- unknown
- Routes
- —
- Forms
- —
- Regions
- US, EU, CN, JP
- Monitoring
- —
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Evaluation of myocardial perfusion and blood flow to the heart, diagnosis of coronary artery disease, assessment of heart muscle function, pre-operative cardiac risk evaluation, and monitoring of patients with known heart disease.
After intravenous injection, Ammonia N-13 is taken up by myocardial tissue in proportion to regional blood flow. As a positron emitter, it generates gamma rays that are detected by a PET scanner to create detailed images of heart blood flow patterns.
Must be produced on-site using a cyclotron due to its 10-minute half-life. Exposed to ionizing radiation. Should only be used by trained nuclear medicine personnel in facilities equipped for radiopharmaceutical handling. Pregnancy and breastfeeding considerations apply. Patient preparation and scanning protocols must be followed as directed by the imaging facility.
Official drug label
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This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 26, 2026. · Read our editorial policy