Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Lactate
Lactate
Fluoride Oxalate
| Test | Lactate |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | LAC |
| Profile | NA |
| Tube type | fluoride EDTA |
| Clinical Indication | Lactate is the end product of anaerobic glycolysis. There are two major clinical settings in which lactic acidosis occurs (1) in conditions associated with hypoxia such as shock and (2) in metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus. Increased plasma lactate is characteristic of tissue hypoxia. Lactate can also be used as a marker of severity of septic shock. |
| Specimen Type | Blood |
| Sample type | Plasma |
| Minimum Volume | 1mL |
| Special Precautions | Sample must be sent to the laboratory ASAP after collection, and must be separated within a maximum of 6 hours |
| Stability | Separated plasma stable for 8 hours at 15-25°C and 14 days at 4°C |
| Turnaround Time | Inpatient: 4 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours |
| Laboratory | York and Scarborough |
| Reference Interval | 0.6 - 2.5 mmol/L (Recommended by the Pathology Harmonisation Reference Group) |
| Limitations | Samples should not be taken from patients receiving therapy with high biotin doses (i.e. > 5 mg/day) until at least 8 hours following the last biotin administration. |
| Notes |
