Lactic Acid

Message

Test performed at York Hospital Laboratory.

Test Code

LACTA

Alias/See Also

Lactic Acid, Plasma

CPT Codes
83605

Preferred Specimen

0.2 mL plasma collected in Fluoride Oxalate (gray-top) tube, transferred to a plastic screw-cap vial

Instructions

Venous specimens should be obtained without the use of a tourniquet or immediately after the tourniquet is applied. Alternatively, the tourniquet should be removed after the puncture has been performed, and the blood should be allowed to circulate for several minutes before the sample is withdrawn. The patient should avoid any exercise of the arm or hand before or during collection of the specimen. Separate plasma from the cellular material within 15 minutes of collection. Specimens should be collected in tubes that are at least half full. Smaller volumes can result in negative biases.

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 8 hours
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 1 month

Methodology
Spectrophotometry

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

Same Day Available STAT 1/2 Hour

Reference Range

0.7-2.1 mmol/L

Clinical Significance

Lactic acidosis usually results from overproduction or underutilization of lactate. Elevated lactate levels can occur as a result of tissue hypoxia; diabetes mellitus; phenformin therapy; malignancies; glycogen storage disease; ethanol, methanol, or salicylate ingestion; and metabolic acidosis.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.