Lactate (plasma)
Code:
LACTF
Sample Type:
Plasma (Fluoride-Oxalate: Grey Top or Lithium Heparin: Green Top)
Minimum volume: 1 mL
Ref Ranges/Units:
Adult: 0.5-2.2 mmol/L
Turnaround:
Same Day (60 minutes from receipt for Urgent Samples).
Stability:
8 hours at 15‑25°C
14 days at 2‑8°C
38 days at -20°C
Special Precautions/Comments:
Additional Information:
Plasma lactate is increased alongside pyruvate during anaerobic glycolysis. Increase lactate levels can therefore be seen in shock and tissue hypoxia. Measurement of lactate is also useful to investigate a raised anion gap metabolic acidosis of unknown origin. Lactic acidosis can arise in renal failure and leukaemia. Thiamine deficiency and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) are also associated with increased levels of lactate.
South of Tyne & Wear Pathology Centre
