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Test Code LAC Lactic Acid

Important Note

  • Sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate plasma (gray top tube) is the only acceptable sample.
  • 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the puncture has been performed, and the blood should be allowed to circulate for several minutes before the sample is withdrawn.

Additional Codes

Cerner

NextGen

Lactic Acid

Lactic Acid

Alternate Name(s)

Lactate

L-Lactate

Useful For

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.

Methodology

Colorimetric, Lactate to pyruvate

Patient Preparation

None

Collection Instructions

  • Standard phlebotomy practices, except that:
    • 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the puncture has been performed, and the blood should be allowed to circulate for several minutes before the sample is withdrawn.
  • Samples should be centrifuged within 15 minutes after collection and be analyzed as quickly as possible.    

Specimen Requirements

Container

Specimen Type

Tube

Sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate plasma (gray top tube)

 

Stability

Storage

Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

18-28°C

≤ 8 hours

If separated within 15 min

Refrigerated

 2-8°C

≤ 14 days

If separated within 15 min

Frozen

≤-18 °C

≤ 1 month

If separated within 15 min

Rejection Criteria

Not Defined

Result Reporting and Reference Values

Reported in mmol/L 

Age

Low

High

0 – 18 y

0.5

2.2

18 – 150 y

0.7

2.1

Reflex Testing

None

Limitations

  • Ortho reports a bias with the following:
    • N-acetylcysteine at 21.5 mg/dL causes a negative bias-consult IFU
  • Ortho reports no significant effect with the following: 
    • Bilirubin up to 20 mg/dl
    • Hemoglobin up to 800 mg/dL
    • Lipemia up to 800 mg/dL