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Lactic Acid, Blood Level

Lactate

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB95, Beaker: LA

Department

Chemistry

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gray-top Fluoride Oxalate tube.
See Minimum Pediatric Specimen Requirements.

See Lactic Acid Reflex Testing flow diagram after Clinical Utility section – this applies to all In-patients and Emergency Center patients. It does not apply to Out-patient orders. 

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimens refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport. Room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) is acceptable for a maximum of 8 hours.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Whole-blood, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Moderate to grossly hemolyzed specimens.
• Specimens not collected in fluoride oxalate tubes.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Transport to the STAT Laboratory (Royal Oak) or to the Chemistry Laboratories, immediately after collection.

In-Lab Processing

Separate plasma from cells immediately after obtaining blood sample.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Plasma After Centrifugation in Fluoride Oxalate (Gray-top tubes)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Uncentrifuged Whole Blood in Fluoride Oxalate (Gray-top tubes)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 30 days (aliquot separated from cells)

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 5 days (Whole Blood)

Laboratory

Dearborn Chemistry Laboratory
Farmington Hills Chemistry Laboratory
Grosse Pointe Chemistry Laboratory
Lenox Chemistry Laboratory
Livonia Chemistry Laboratory
Royal Oak STAT Laboratory
Taylor Chemistry Laboratory
Trenton Chemistry Laboratory
Troy Chemistry Laboratory
Wayne Main Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
STAT results available within 1 hour of receipt in the Laboratory.
Routine results available within 4 hours.

Reference Range

0.5-2.0 mmol/L.

Test Methodology

Enzymatic.

Interpretation

Lactate is an end-product of glycolysis arising mainly in muscle, brain and RBC's. Increased levels may reflect increased rates of production and /or decreased clearance rates (by liver and kidney). Increased lactate production occurs during episodes of tissue hypoxia and anaerobic metabolism. Blood cells rapidly metabolize glucose to lactic acid- it is therefore essential to minimize glycolysis of the blood sample (see Specimen Collection Criteria).

Clinical Utility

This assay aids in the evaluation of metabolic acidosis, regional or diffuse tissue hypoperfusion, hypoxia, shock, congestive heart failure, dehydration, complicated postoperative state, ketoacidosis or nonketotic acidosis in diabetes mellitus, patients with infections, inflammatory states, certain myopathies, acute leukemia and other neoplasia, enzyme defects, glycogen storage disease (type1), thiamine deficiency and hepatic failure.

Lactic acid reflex testing for all In-patients and Emergency Center patients: 

CPT Codes

83605

Contacts

Last Updated

11/1/2024