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Test Code LAB95 Lactic Acid, Plasma

Important Note

Processed specimen must arrive within 48 hours of draw.  If separated from the cells, plasma Lactate is stable for 8 hours at room temperature and 14 days in the refrigerator.  If there is going to be a delay in transport of >48 hours, send specimen frozen in plastic vial.

 

Reporting Title

Lactic Acid

Methodology

Roche Diagnostics- RMH, GMC, DH, DMH, WECC, PMH,GCMH, BH, OBH, MGH, MH, HMH, SH

Increased lactic acid my be caused by anoxia due to shock, pneumonia, or congestive heart failure. It is also associated with renal failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, and leukemia.

Performing Laboratory

OhioHealth Laboratory Services-RMH, GMC, DH, DMH, MGH, HMH, WECC, PMH, OBH, MH, SH,GCMH Core Laboratories

Specimen Requirements

Processed specimen must arrive within 48 hours of draw.  If separated from the cells, plasma Lactate is stable for 8 hours at room temperature and 14 days in the refrigerator.  If there is a delay in transport of >48 hours, send specimen frozen in plastic vial.

Draw blood in a grey-top (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride) tube(s). Specimen should be drawn from a stasis-free vein, if possible, or within 30 seconds of applying a tourniquet. 

Note:

1. Glycolysis in blood can rapidly increase lactate levels. It is important to centrifuge and remove plasma from cells immediately after draw.

2. Exercise increases lactate levels. Thirty minutes of rest is sufficient to return to normal levels.

Specimen Transport Temperature

Frozen/Refrigerate /Ambient 5 hours

Reference Values

0.6-2.0 mmol/L

Critical values >4 .0 mmol/L

Alerting category:  Always called within 1 hour 

 

Note:  Dopamine, levodopa, and methyldopa may falsely reduce lactate levels depending on their levels. Glycolate (a metabolite of ethylene glycol) with falsely elevate results.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday; Continuously

Test Classification and CPT Coding

83605