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Lactate
Also known as Lactic Acid
This test is for
Male, Female
Test Preparation
Understanding Lactate
What is Lactate?
A healthcare practitioner suggests a lactate test when patients experience sepsis, shock, severe congestive heart failure, etc. The symptoms include rapid breathing, nausea, and sweating, suggesting a lack of oxygen. High blood lactate may indicate the lack of oxygen or excess production/insufficient clearing of lactate from the blood.
Excess lactate in the blood can lead to lactic acidosis, and the person is said to have hyperlactatemia. Sample can be collected from both venous and arterial blood for lactate level measurement. Prior to the lactate test, doctors advise refraining from exercise or eating or drinking anything (other than water) for 8 to 10 hours.
What is Lactate used for?
- If a doctor suspects the person to be suffering from sepsis, heart attack, severe congestive heart failure, kidney failure or from diabetes that has not been adequately treated
- Some of the symptoms that may require to get tested are nausea, rapid breathing and sweating that suggest a lack of oxygen or an abnormal acid/base balance.
- To detect levels of lactate in the blood, which may be an indication of lack of oxygen (hypoxia) or the presence of other conditions that cause excess production or insufficient clearing of lactate from the blood.
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