A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

Lactic Acid

Test Code
LA


CPT Codes
83605

Preferred Specimen

Fluoride Oxalate Plasma (Gray Top Tube); Tube should be filled at least half full for proper blood:anticoagulant ratio.



Minimum Volume
Half-full Gray Top tube


Other Acceptable Specimens
Lithium Heparin Plasma, transported to lab on ice within 20 minutes of collection. If transport to laboratory will be longer than 20 minutes, specimen should be centrifuged, plasma removed to a plastic pourover tube, and frozen.


Instructions

Fluoride Oxalate Plasma is the preferred specimen and does not require transport on ice. However, if this anticoagulant tube is not available, Lithium Heparin Plasma may be used. Transport to lab on ice within 20 minutes of collection, or centrifuge, transfer plasma to plastic pourover tube, and freeze if transport to lab will take longer than 20 minutes.

This test is for Lactic Acid measurement on Plasma.  For Lacitc Acid measurement on Body Fluids, order MISLA.



Transport Container

Fluoride Oxalate Plasma Vacutainer tube, or centrifuged plasma in a plastic pourover tube. If using Lithium Heparin Plasma, specimen should be transported on ice to the lab within 20 minutes or centrifuged and plasma transferred to plastic pourover tube and frozen.



Transport Temperature
Room Temperature or Refrigeration for Fluoride Oxalate Vacutainer (recommended); or transport on ice within 20 minutes of collection or freeze plasma if collected in Lithium Heparin Vacutainer


Specimen Stability
Fluoride Oxalate (recommended): Room Temperature Stability - 8 hours; Refrigerated - 14 days; Frozen - 1 month. Lithium Heparin Plasma: Stability of specimen on ice: 20 minutes; Frozen plasma: 24 hours.


Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Quantity Not Sufficient, EDTA (purple top tube) contamination, IV contamination


Methodology
Colorimetric

Setup Schedule

Daily upon receipt



Report Available
Upon completion of analysis


Reference Range

0.7 - 2.1 mmol/L



Clinical Significance

Lactate is the end product of the anaerobic metabolism of glucose. The concentration of lactate in the blood is dependent on the rate of production in muscle cells and erythrocytes and the rate of metabolism in the liver. 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.

This test is for Lactic Acid measurement on Plasma.  For Lacitc Acid measurement on Body Fluids, order MISLA.





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.