Lactate

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Auckland Te Toka Tumai

Test Guide

Lactate

Testing Laboratory

Auckland Te Toka Tumai | Auckland Hospital

Department

Chemical Pathology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

BLAC

Test Code (Numeric Code)

0166

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Specimen must be collected in fluoride tube.

Separating

Centrifuge within 60 minutes of collection.

Sample Stability

Separated fluoride plasma is stable for 8 hours at 15-25°C, 14 days at 2-8°C. DO NOT USE SERUM

Synonyms

Lactate Plasma
Plasma Lactate

Turnaround Time

3 hours

Specimen Type

Plasma

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Fluoride (Grey Cap)

Acceptable

Blood Gas Syringe

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Fluoride (Grey Cap)

Acceptable

Blood Gas Syringe

Pre-testing Requirements

Mix well. Transport to laboratory without delay.
Capillary samples are very dependent on the quality of specimen collection, including the maintenance of anaerobic conditions during the procedure, to produce reliable results.

Diagnostic Use

Lactate concentrations may be increased in:
A. Tissue hypoxia:

Anaerobic exercise
arterial hypoxia
shock
cardiac failure
vascular occlusion.
B. Metabolic disorders:

Liver disease
drugs/toxins (ethanol, methanol, salicylates, phenformin)
thiamine deficiency
genetic metabolic defects: glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency, pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency; defects of gluconeogenesis; respiratory chain disorders (“mitochondrial disease”).

NOTE: Sample collection
Plasma lactate may be falsely elevated if a tourniquet is used.

Interpretation

LACTATE / PYRUVATE RATIO

REFERENCE INTERVAL: 6 – 26 (mmol lactate/mmol pyruvate)

The lactate / pyruvate ratio in plasma is a reflection of the intracellular NADH / NAD ratio. It is of very limited clinical value, except in the diagnosis of specific metabolic disorders in patients with high lactate. An increased ratio is characteristic of tissue hypoxia from any cause, alcohol, and respiratory chain disorders. A normal ratio is can be seen in thiamine deficiency, pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, defects of gluconeogenesis, glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency and liver disease.

See also
Pyruvate
CSF lactate
Hypoglycaemia – investigationsRefs:
Debray F-G, Mitchell GA, Allard P et al. Diagnostic accuracy of blood lactate-to-pyruvate molar ratio in the differential diagnosis of congenital lactic acidosis. Clin. Chem. 2007;53(5): 916-21)

Reference Intervals

Units: mmol/L

Reference interval:

Venous and Arterial: <2.0 mmol/L (at rest)

Cord blood: <6.1 mmol/L

Note:

Locally agreed “action limits” have also been set for other hand-held meters for neonates (<3 mmol/L), and for fetal scalp pH during delivery (<4.2 mmol/L) (see Table below). These are alert thresholds and not reference limits.

Test Method

Analyze on Cobas

Uncertainty of Measurement

Uncertainty of Measurement: 5% ** For Whole Blood Uncertainty of measurement refer to the Blood Gases page

Last updated: 30/03/2026

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

Testing Laboratory

Department

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

Test Code (Numeric Code)

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Separating

Sample Stability

Synonyms

Turnaround Time

Specimen Type

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Pre-testing Requirements

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Diagnostic Use

Interpretation

Reference Intervals

Test Method

Uncertainty of Measurement

Non-Funded Test Cost

Additional Costing Information

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

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Lactate

Overview

Testing Laboratory

Department

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

Test Code (Numeric Code)

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Separating

Sample Stability

Synonyms

Turnaround Time

Specimen

Specimen Type

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Pre-testing Requirements

Referral

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Clinical Information/Test Method

Diagnostic Use

Interpretation

Reference Intervals

Test Method

Uncertainty of Measurement

Price

Non-Funded Test Cost

Additional Costing Information

Additional Information

Contact Information

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

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