Lactate is a substance produced by your cells when they break down glucose for energy without enough oxygen, a process called anaerobic metabolism. It is normally cleared quickly by the liver.
Category: Metabolic Panel
Also known as: lactate, lactic acid, serum lactate, blood lactate
Reference range: 0.5–2 mmol/L (Source: ABIM)
Standard unit: mmol/L
High values may indicate
High lactate levels may indicate shock, sepsis, heart failure, severe infection, or intense exercise. Persistently elevated levels suggest inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues.
Low values may indicate
Low lactate levels are generally not clinically significant and typically indicate normal tissue oxygenation.