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| 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 CodeLACT
Alias/See Also
Lactate, LA
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL plasma (0.5 mL minimum)
Instructions
The patient should be fasting and at complete rest. Keep sample on ice and deliver to Laboratory immediately.
Transport Container
Gray top (sodium fluoride)
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: Unacceptable, Refrigerated: 1 day, Frozen: 1 month
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Grossly hemolyzed specimens are unacceptable.
Limitations
Intravenous injection of epinephrine, glucose, bicarbonate, or other infusions that modify the acid-base balance causes elevation of lactate (and also pyruvate) levels not necessarily related to hypoxia.
Reference Range
| Age | Male/Female |
| Adult: | 0.4 - 2.0 mmol/L |
| Pediatric: | |
| 0–3 months | 1.0-3.5 |
| 3 months – 2 years | 1.0-3.3 |
| 2 – 18 years | 1.0-2.4 |
Clinical Significance
"Lactate is a product of carbohydrate metabolism. Lactic acid is produced during periods of anaerobic metabolism when cells do not receive adequate oxygen to allow conversion of fuel sources to carbon dioxide and water. Lactic acid will accumulate because of excess production of lactate and decreased removal of lactic acid from blood by liver This measurement contributes to the knowledge of acid-base volume in the body and is used to detect lactic acidosis in persons with underlying risk factors that predispose them to this imbalance, such as cardiovascular and renal disease. Lactate will be elevated in a variety of conditions in which hypoxia is present and in liver disease. Lactic acidosis can occur both in diabetics and nondiabetics, and it is an often-fatal form of metabolic acidosis. The presence of an unexplained fall in pH associated with a hypoxia producing condition is reason to suspect lactic acidosis."
