$12.00
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Metabolism & organs
Lactic acid test
Indicator of tissue hypoxia, sepsis, or metabolic stress.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Your body makes lactic acid when your cells work hard or don’t get enough oxygen. Here, the lab measures how much is in your blood.
Why it matters for women
Lactic acid is mostly checked when someone is very ill, for example with an infection that has spread through the body, including one after childbirth. It can also help look into unusual muscle weakness. Hard exercise shortly before the blood draw can raise it, so a rested sample is easier to read.
You might check it if…
- a doctor is looking into muscle weakness or tiring quickly with exercise
- you live with a condition affecting how your cells make energy
- a doctor wants to follow up an earlier lactic acid result
What your result may mean
High Lactic acid: what it may mean
High lactic acid (lactate) may mean your tissues aren't getting enough blood flow or oxygen (hypoperfusion). It can happen with a serious body-wide infection (sepsis), including an infection after childbirth, or with diabetic ketoacidosis in pregnancy. Problems with how cells make energy (mitochondrial dysfunction) and, rarely, metformin-related acidosis can raise it too. You may notice fast breathing, nausea or muscle weakness, and a very high level with serious illness can be an emergency. Hard exercise shortly before the draw can raise it for a short time, so a rested sample can be easier to read.
Low Lactic acid: what it may mean
Low lactic acid may be a normal finding with no clinical meaning. Your body can make and clear this substance all day, so a low value may simply mean your cells had enough oxygen and weren't working hard when the sample was drawn. Resting before the test can keep it low. A low result can't explain unusual muscle weakness or tiredness, so a clinician may still look into those symptoms with other tests.
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These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.