Lactic Acid

Results

A lactic acid test is a blood test that measures the level of lactic acid made in the body. Most of it is made by muscle tissue and red blood cells.

Normal

Normal values may vary from lab to lab. Results are ready in 1 day.

Lactic acid

Venous blood	5–20 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 0.6–2.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L)
Arterial blood	3–7 mg/dL or 0.3–0.8 mmol/L

High values

A high lactic acid value indicates lactic acidosis, which can be caused by:

• Severe loss of water from the blood (dehydration).
• Blood problems, such as severe anemia or leukemia.
• Liver disease or liver damage that prevents the liver from breaking down lactic acid in the blood.
• Conditions such as severe bleeding, shock, severe infection, heart failure, blockage of blood flow to the intestines, carbon monoxide poisoning, or pulmonary embolism that prevent adequate oxygen from reaching the body's cells.
• Extremely strenuous exercise or extreme overheating.
• Poisoning by alcohol (ethanol), wood alcohol (methanol), or antifreeze (ethylene glycol).
• Some medicines, such as isoniazid for tuberculosis or metformin (Glucophage) for diabetes. Lactic acidosis is a concern for people who take Glucophage to control their diabetes, especially if they have poor kidney function.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: August 19, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology
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