LabCorp

Lactic Acid, Plasma

Optimal Result: 4.8 - 25.7 mg/dL.

This test measures the level of lactic acid, also known as lactate, in your blood. Lactic acid is a substance made by muscle tissue and by red blood cells, which carry oxygen from your lungs to other parts of your body. Normally, the level of lactic acid in the blood is low.

Lactic acid levels rise when oxygen levels decrease.

Low oxygen levels may be caused by:

- Strenuous exercise
- Heart failure
- Severe infection
- Shock, a dangerous condition that limits blood flow to your organs and tissues

If lactic acid levels get too high, it can lead to a life-threatening condition known as lactic acidosis. A lactic acid test can help diagnose lactic acidosis before it causes serious complications.

-------------------

Hypoperfusion (=a reduced amount of blood flow) is the most common cause of lactic acidosis and hyperlactacidemia may be the only marker of tissue hypoperfusion.

Suspect lactic acidosis when unexplained anion gap metabolic acidosis is encountered, especially if azotemia or ketoacidosis are not present.

Evaluate metabolic acidosis, regional or diffuse tissue hypoperfusion, hypoxia, shock, congestive heart failure, dehydration, complicated postoperative state, ketoacidosis or nonketotic acidosis in diabetes mellitus, patients with infections, inflammatory states, postictal state, certain myopathies, acute leukemia and other neoplasia, enzyme defects, glycogen storage disease (type I), thiamine deficiency, and hepatic failure.

A spontaneous form of lactic acidosis occurs. It is a prognostic index in particular clinical settings, especially in critically ill patients in shock.

A relationship to renal disease also exists. With skin rash, seizures, alopecia, ataxia, keratoconjunctivitis, and lactic acidosis in children, consider defective biotin metabolism. Phenformin, ethanol, methanol, and salicylate poisoning and ethylene glycol may cause lactic acidosis. Acetaminophen toxicity causes lactic acidosis, sometimes with hypoglycemia. Cyanide, isoniazid, and propylene glycol are among the causes of lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis may be due to inborn errors of metabolism.

Creatinine is higher in ketoacidosis than in lactic acidosis, by interference produced by acetoacetic acid on creatinine.

Additional notes:

The measurement of lactate levels may be indicated in the clinical setting of metabolic acidosis. Serum salicylate, ethanol level, and osmolality may be helpful. Spontaneous lactic acidosis may be fatal. High CSF lactate levels suggest the meningitis is bacterial while low values suggest a viral cause.

References:

- Schuster HP. Prognostic value of blood lactate in critically ill patients. Resuscitation. 1984; 11(3-4):141-146 (review). PubMed 6326218

- Thoene J, Baker H, Yoshino M, et al. Biotin-responsive carboxylase deficiency associated with subnormal plasma and urinary biotin. N Engl J Med. 1981; 304(14):817-820. PubMed 6782477

- Henning RJ, Weil MH, Weiner F. Blood lactate as a prognostic indicator of survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Circ Shock. 1982; 9(3):307-315. PubMed 7094222

- Bailey EM, Domenico P, Cunha BA. Bacterial or viral meningitis? Measuring lactate in CSF can help you know quickly. Postgrad Med. 1990; 88(5):217-219, 223 (review). PubMed 2216980

Anderson CT Jr, Westgard JO, Schlimgen K, et al. Contribution of arterial blood lactate measurement to the care of critically ill patients. Am J Clin Pathol. 1977; 68(1):63-67. PubMed 17295

What does it mean if your Lactic Acid, Plasma result is too high?

- Hypoperfusion (=a reduced amount of blood flow) is the most common cause of lactic acidosis.

- hyperlactacidemia (=an elevated blood lactate concentration) may be the only marker of tissue hypoperfusion.

Phosphorus is sometimes significantly abnormal in lactic acidosis.

What are causes of lactic acidosis?

Causes of lactic acidosis (usually <45 mg/dL) include:

- carbohydrate infusions,

- exercise,

- diabetic ketosis,

- alcohol.

Causes of lactic acidosis (>45 mg/dL) include:

- shock (in which lactic acidosis may occur early, before fall in blood pressure, decrease in urine output),

- hypoxia (including congestive failure, severe anemia, hypotension) and malignancies.

Severe lactic acidosis can develop in minutes.

Lactic acidosis can accompany dehydration.

Blood lactate concentration correlates negatively with survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction, with persistent elevation, >36 mg/dL for more than 12 hours, being associated with poor prognosis.

- At a given bicarbonate level, the average pCO2 is lower in lactic acidosis than in diabetic ketoacidosis.

- Lactic acid determination is generally indicated if anion gap is <20 and if pH is >7.25 and the pCO2 is not elevated.

10 000+ happy clients
100% satisfaction
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ customer support

Understand blood, stool, and urine medical results from all your laboratories.

Get Started With Our Personal Plan

Advanced Plan

  • ✓ Yearly subscription
  • ✓ Five free uploads
  • ✓ Cancel anytime
  • ✓ Instant interpretations
  • ✓ Use the free self-upload form
  • ✓ 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • ✓ Nutrition Recommendations
  • ✓ Dedicated support
  • ✓ Yearly subscription
  • ✓ Five free uploads
  • ✓ Cancel anytime
$79 per year
  • ✓ Instant interpretations
  • ✓ Use the free self-upload form
  • ✓ 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • ✓ Nutrition Recommendations
  • ✓ Dedicated support

Unlimited Plan

  • ✓ No subscription
  • ✓ Ten free uploads
  • ✓ Unlimited access
  • ✓ Instant interpretations
  • ✓ Use the free self-upload form
  • ✓ 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • ✓ Nutrition Recommendations
  • ✓ Dedicated support
  • ✓ No subscription
  • ✓ Ten free uploads
  • ✓ Unlimited access
$250 full version

Are You a Health Professional?

Get started with our professional plan

Welcome to Healthmatters Pro.

Save time on interpreting lab results with the largest database of biomarkers online. In-depth research on any test at your fingertips, all stored and tracked in one place. Learn more

Pro Plan

for health professionals

  • ✓ Track multiple clients results
  • ✓ No setup fees
  • ✓ No hidden costs
  • ✓ Cancel anytime
  • ✓ Instant interpretations
  • ✓ Use the free template forms
  • ✓ 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • ✓ Additional team member $25
  • ✓ Personal training and support

$45 per month

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.


We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

×

Understand Your Lab Result Now

  • Instant interpretation
  • 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • Science-based recommendations
  • Online support
  • Secure and private portal

Get 10% off with promocode: