Lactic Acid Test
500 Kshs | Home Collection Available
Synonyms
None
Purpose
The Lactic Acid Test measures the level of lactic acid in your blood. Lactic acid is a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, the process your body uses to produce energy when oxygen levels are low.
This test helps assess how well your body is using oxygen and whether lactic acid is building up in the bloodstream, which can signal an underlying health issue.
Elevated lactic acid levels (lactic acidosis) may indicate serious conditions like sepsis, heart failure, severe infections, shock, or respiratory failure. The test is critical in emergency settings to monitor metabolic function and tissue oxygenation.
For a full diagnostic picture, the test can be done alongside Arterial Blood Gases (ABG), Complete Blood Count (CBC), Electrolyte Panel, Kidney and Liver Function Tests, and Blood Cultures.
These additional tests help provide a more complete picture of what’s causing elevated lactate levels.
Patient Preparation
The patient should not be on an intravenous infusion that would affect the acid-base balance. The patient should avoid exercise.
Samples
1ml with a minimum volume of 0.5ml of plasma collected in a grey top tube (sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate or sodium heparin). Draw blood in a grey tube and mix well by inversion, centrifuge for 10 minutes, and transfer the plasma to a labelled plastic transport tube. Store the sample at room temperature.
Reference Range
> 6 years 4.8-25.7mg/dl
Results Turnaround
1- 3 days after receipt of samples
Diseases / Diagnostic indicators
The Lactic Acid Test is primarily used to help diagnose lactic acidosis, a condition marked by an excessive buildup of lactic acid in the blood. This can result from conditions that cause low oxygen levels or impair the body’s ability to metabolize lactic acid.
Some possible outcomes of the test include;
High levels may indicate:
- Lactic acidosis due to sepsis, shock, cardiac arrest, or severe hypoxia.
- Organ failure, especially involving the liver (which clears lactic acid) or kidneys.
- Uncontrolled diabetes, especially when associated with ketoacidosis.
- Strenuous exercise, seizures, or intense physical exertion.
- Certain medications or toxins, such as metformin (especially in renal impairment) or cyanide poisoning.
Normal Lactic Acid Levels
Suggest that tissue oxygenation and metabolism are functioning normally. A normal result may rule out conditions like sepsis, respiratory failure, or shock, particularly in emergency assessments.
This test helps guide urgent clinical decisions, especially in critically ill patients. For more on the Lactic Acid Test, read this study.