Lactic Acid, Plasma

Test Code

585

CPT Codes
83605

Preferred Specimen

2 mL plasma collected in a sodium fluoride or oxalate (gray-top) tube

Patient Preparation
Sample should be collected without the use of a tourniquet; avoid hand-clenching. If a tourniquet has been used, it should be released for one minute prior to drawing blood.

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Instructions

Collected blood should be cooled on ice immediately and separated from the cells within 3 hours. The collected blood should be well-mixed and separated from the cells within 3 hours. Freeze plasma and ship frozen.

The assay manufacturer, Roche, notes that N-acetylcysteine, when administered in high concentrations (such as for treatment of acetaminophen overdose), can interfere with their assay for Lactate (Lactic Acid), leading to falsely low results.

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: 30 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Gross hemolysis • Grossly icteric • Grossly lipemic

Methodology
Colorimetric

Setup Schedule

Set up: Sun-Fri; Report available: 1-2 days

Reference Range

0.4-1.8 mmol/L

Clinical Significance

Lactic acid is the endproduct of the anaerobic metabolism of glucose. The blood lactic acid concentration is affected by its production in muscle cells and erythrocytes and its rate of metabolism in the liver. During exercise, blood lactate can increase up to ten times of normal levels.

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.