Lactate Concentration Determination

What is it? 

Lactate is a milk acid that forms in muscles under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions. Its increase in blood indicates possible tissue hypoxia, metabolic imbalance, or infection. 

When is it recommended? 

• Suspecting sepsis or severe infection; 
• Monitoring critically ill patients (in cases of shock, respiratory failure); 
• Assessing tissue perfusion (e.g., in intensive care units); 
• For athletes – to evaluate the impact of physical exercise. 

Benefits: 

Helps to identify life-threatening conditions, monitor treatment effectiveness, and make quick decisions. The higher the lactate, the greater the risk of tissue oxygen deficiency. 

Important to know: 

Lactate levels can also physiologically increase – after intense physical exercise, epileptic seizure, as well as due to medication or liver dysfunction.