Lactate (Lactic Acid)
Lactate (lactic acid) is a product of anaerobic glucose metabolism, formed in the body when there is insufficient oxygen in tissues. The blood lactate test helps assess tissue oxygen supply and detect metabolic disturbances associated with hypoxia and metabolic acidosis.
Significance of the test:
- Assessment of tissue oxygen supply and detection of hypoxia.
- Monitoring conditions such as shock, sepsis, severe trauma, and circulatory disorders.
- Diagnosis of metabolic disorders and lactic acidosis.
- Identifying severity of diseases affecting the heart, lungs, liver, and other organs.
- Assessment of newborns with asphyxia and severe hypoxia.
Indications for testing:
- Suspected sepsis, shock, or severe hypoxia.
- Monitoring patients in intensive care units.
- Diagnosis of metabolic and mitochondrial disorders.
- Assessment in diabetes mellitus and other chronic diseases.
Normal values:
- Venous blood: 0.5–2.2 mmol/L.
- Arterial blood: 0.5–1.6 mmol/L.
Elevated lactate levels (lactic acidosis) are observed in:
- Sepsis and severe infections.
- Shock and circulatory disturbances.
- Acute and chronic heart failure.
- Liver and kidney diseases.
- Intense physical exercise and trauma.
- Anemia and conditions with inadequate tissue oxygen supply.
- Certain metabolic and oncological diseases.
Test features:
The lactate test requires venous or arterial blood collection on an empty stomach. Elevated lactate level does not indicate a specific diagnosis but serves as an important marker of disease severity and helps doctors monitor treatment effectiveness and patient prognosis.