Lactate

This test measures the level of lactate, also called lactic acid, in a sample of your blood. In certain cases, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be used. Normally, you have low levels of lactate in your blood and CSF. High levels of lactate may be a sign of a wide variety of medical conditions.

A lactate blood test is most often used to diagnose lactic acidosis and find out how severe it is. It can also help evaluate and monitor many types of medical conditions that may make lactate levels rise.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Normal range

7 published ranges, each from a named source

0.72.1 mmol/L drawn: all ages · American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges)

18 y+: 0.5–2.2 mmol/L (varies by lab)
Normal: 0.31–2.1 mmol/L (varies by lab)ABIM 0.7–2.1 · ARUP 0.31–2 mmol/L

These labs do not agree: the published adult ranges differ by up to 2.3×, so the same result can read as normal at one lab and be flagged at another — ABIM 0.7–2.1 · ARUP 0.31–2 mmol/L. Both are real published values, shown as each lab states them.

Ranges from ARUP Laboratories Test Directory, American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog).

All source ranges (7)

Source	Sex	Age	Range
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges)	All	all ages	0.7–2.1 mmol/L
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory	All	all ages	0.31–2 mmol/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog)	All	≤ 3 mo	0–3.3 mmol/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog)	All	3 mo – 2 y	0–3.1 mmol/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog)	All	2 y – 18 y	0–2.2 mmol/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog)	All	18 y+	0.5–2 mmol/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog)	All	18 y+	0.5–2.2 mmol/L

What an abnormal result can be associated with

A high result: Increased circulating lactate concentration

Associations from LOINC2HPO (Human Phenotype Ontology). This is reference information, not a diagnosis: only a clinician can interpret your result in context.

details

Sample: Serum or plasma · LOINC
Listed under: Metabolic Disorders · Sepsis · Shock
Code: LOINC 2524-7 · mmol/L
Also known as: L-lactate, Lact, Lactic acid

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