Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Body Fluid

Test Code

FLDH

Alias/See Also

Epic: LAB188

Preferred Specimen

Specimen Type: Body fluid
Preferred Source: Peritoneal fluid (peritoneal, abdominal, ascites, paracentesis), Pleural fluid (pleural, chest, thoracentesis), Drain fluid (drainage, JP drain), Pericardial, Synovial
Collection Container: Green top tube (Lithium or Sodium heparin)
Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Specimen Type: Body fluid
Collection Container: Sterile container

Instructions

Specimen source indicated on specimen is required.

Specimen Stability

Room Temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated : 5 days
Frozen: Not defined

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

Unlabeled, mislabeled, wrong tube type, QNS, wrong preservative, exceeds specimen stability requirements.

Methodology

Lactate to pyruvate (NADH)

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

Same day

Limitations

Do not use hemolyzed samples. Red cells contain 150 times more LDH activity than serum.
Bilirubin has <2% effect at 60 mg/dl. LDH values vary greatly with methodology.
Lipemia has < 10% interference at 2000 mg/dL triglycerides.
Specimens not centrifuged and/or exposed to heat will show falsely elevated LD results.

Reference Range

See laboratory report

Clinical Significance

LD, an enzyme found in most major tissues, is released with cell damage caused by hypoxia, necrosis, or trauma. LD is elevated by a number pathologic conditions, most notably cardiac and hepatitis disease. Five electrophoretic isoenzymes are observed, with the relative ratios varying with the tissue source.

Performing Laboratory

Inova Laboratories

2832 Juniper Street

Fairfax, VA 22031

Last Updated: April 10, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, April 10, 2023

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.