Lactate is produced during anaerobic metabolism when oxygen delivery to tissues is insufficient.

Elevated lactate levels indicate hypoxia, sepsis, shock, or metabolic disorders.

Clinical uses include:

Assessing severity of sepsis and septic shock.

Monitoring patients with respiratory or circulatory failure.

Detecting lactic acidosis in metabolic or toxic conditions.

Evaluating exercise physiology in sports medicine.

Often performed in emergency, ICU, and critical care settings.

Analyte: Blood lactate concentration (mmol/L).

Normal Range (varies by lab): ~0.5–2.2 mmol/L.

Abnormal Findings:

High Lactate (>2 mmol/L): Suggests hypoxia, sepsis, shock, cardiac arrest, severe anemia, or metabolic disorders.

Very High Lactate (>4 mmol/L): Strong indicator of lactic acidosis, requiring urgent intervention.

Clinical Use:

Provides a marker of tissue hypoxia and metabolic stress.

Helps guide resuscitation and treatment decisions in critical care.

Supports diagnosis of sepsis, shock, and metabolic acidosis.