Lactic Acid - Blood Testing

Blood Testing

Blood tests for lactate are performed to determine the status of the acid base homeostasis in the body. Blood sampling for this purpose is often by arterial blood sampling (even if it is more difficult than venipuncture), because lactate differs substantially between arterial and venous levels, and the arterial level is more representative for this purpose.

Reference ranges
Lower limit Upper limit Unit
Venous 4.5 19.8 mg/dL
0.5 2.2 mmol/L
Arterial 4.5 14.4 mg/dL
0.5 1.6 mmol/L

During childbirth, lactate levels in the fetus can be quantified by fetal scalp blood testing.

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