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Test Code LACT Lactic Acid

Important Note

Venous specimens should be obtained without the use of a tourniquet or immediately after the tourniquet is applied. Alternatively, the tourniquet should be removed after the puncture has been performed, and blood should be allowed to circulate for several minutes prior to sample collection.

Transport to the lab within 15 minutes of collection.

Useful For

Assessing lactic acidosis in patients which can be caused by shock, heart failure, or sepsis.

Specimen Information

Obtain specimen using standard phlebotomy techniques, although note the optimum method is to avoid the use of a tourniquet.

 

Container Specimen Temperature Collect Vol Submit Vol Min Vol Stability
Lithium Heparin Plasma Refrigerate 4 mL 2 mL 0.6 mL 14 days
Room Temp 4 mL 2 mL 0.6 mL 8 hours if separated within 15 minutes.
Frozen 4 mL 2 mL 0.6 mL 1 month

Note:

Optimal Specimen: Submit on ice and deliver immediately to the Laboratory. Specimen must be received in the Laboratory, and the plasma separated within 30 minutes of collection.

Acceptable Specimen: Sample (not on ice) delivered immediately to the Laboratory. Specimen must be received in the Laboratory, and the plasma separated within 15 minutes of collection.

 

Reject Due To:

- Above conditions not met

- Moderate or Marked Hemolysis

- Specimen unlabeled or mislabeled

Instrumentation / Method

Ortho Vitros XT 7600 / Colorimetric

Test Schedule / Analytical Time / Test Priority

Daily / Same Day / Available STAT

Reference Range

0.7 - 2.0 mmol/L

Per sepsis protocol, an initial Lactic Acid result that is >2.0 mmol/L will reflex order 3-hour and 6-hour repeat Lactic Acid test requests.

Note: Reference range update from 0.7 - 2.1 to 0.7 - 2.0 08/05/2025

CPT / LOINC / Order Code

Meditech Medent LOINC CPT
LACTS LACTS 32693-4 83605