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
- ≤ 3 mo
- 0–3.3 mmol/L
- 18 y+
- 0.5–2.2 mmol/L (varies by lab)
- 2 y – 18 y
- 0–2.2 mmol/L
- 3 mo – 2 y
- 0–3.1 mmol/L
- 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 7 source ranges
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
- Lactic acid, Lact, L-lactate