Lactic Acid

Why It Is Done

A test for lactic acid is done to:

• Check for lactic acidosis. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include rapid breathing, excessive sweating, cool and clammy skin, sweet-smelling breath, belly pain, nausea or vomiting, and coma.
• See whether the right amount of oxygen is reaching the body's tissues.
• Find the cause for a high amount of acid (low pH) in the blood.

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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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