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Test Code 9935 Lactate/Pyruvate Panel, Blood

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital

Last Reviewed

November 2024

Lab Dept

Core Lab

Note: Please verify that order is not for Lactate Rapid Whole Blood, for which results are available STAT.

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blood
Container/Tube  
Preferred/Acceptable: Perchloric acid (PCA) Vacutainer. Call lab at 314-454-6130 for special PCA collection tube if needed
Collection Volume: 1.0 mL
NOTE: minimum of 0.5 mL whole blood may be used but MUST call lab to get an adjusted PCA tube for reduced volume collection. 
Patient Preparation: Remove tourniquet from patient's arm before collecting specimen.
Sample Rejection:

Specimens collected in other than PCA tubes.
Specimens with incorrect volume of blood to PCA ratio.
Specimens that are grossly hemolyzed.
Mislabeled or unlabeled specimens. 
Special Instructions:

1. Call lab at 314-454-6130 or 314-454-4268 to have PCA tube sent for collection.
2. Collect exactly 1.0 mL of whole blood in a syringe
3. Remove needle from syringe and remove top of PCA tube. Gently push blood from syringe into PCA tube. Place top back on PCA tube and mix tube vigorously to fully deproteinize the sample.
4. Forward to lab promptly.

For outside facilities sending to lab: if specimen cannot be received at SLCH lab within 6 hours, refrigerate aliquot and send on wet ice.

 

Barnes-Jewish Hospital Note:

Call Barnes-Jewish Hospital Laboratory Customer Service at 314-362-1470 to obtain a perchloric acid (PCA) tube and to schedule a STAT pick-up.

Interpretive

Reference Range:

Lactate:
  0.5-2.0 mmol/L
Pyruvate:
  0.03-0.10 mmol/L
 
Critical Values:

Lactate:
Critical value (automatic callback): >8.0 mmol/L
Critical test results will be called initially and every 24 hours thereafter.
 
Limitations: This assay does not measure D(-) Lactate. The enzyme used is L (+) lactate dehydrogenase.
Methodology: Enzymatic

Additional Information

For SLCH Laboratory use only

Lab Processing instructions: Centrifuge specimen to separate and aliquot into a conical tube. Refrigerate specimen if received after cut-off time.

For outside facilties sending to lab: Label aliquot as "PCA aliquot". If specimen cannot be received at SLCH lab within 6 hours, refrigerate aliquot and send on wet ice.
 
Processed Volume: Remove all of the supernatant without getting any of the cellular components.
A minimum of 0.3 mL supernatant should be removed and placed in conical tube.
 
Analyte Stability:

  LACTATE PYRUVATE
Ambient: NA NA
Refrigerated 8 days (supernatant) 2 days (supernatant)
Frozen NA DO NOT freeze

NOTES: Specimen may also be collected with 0.5 mL of whole blood but MUST be added to and mixed in an adjusted PCA tube with only 1.0 mL of perchloric acid.
Reject due to gross hemolysis.
Reject if specimen to PCA ratio is not correct.

Logistics

Day(s) Test Set Up: Monday-Sunday
Turnaround Time: 1-3 days; results available day of testing
Lab Testing Section: Chemistry

General Information

EPIC order name: Lactate and Pyruvate (EPIC Test# LAB5286)
Cerner order name: Lact/Pyruv Panel
CPT Codes:

83605: Lactate
84210: Pyruvate
LOINC Value

Lactate: 2524-7
Pyruvate: 14121-8
Synonyms:

Barnes-Jewish Hospital Additional Information:

For BJH Laboratory Use Only 
Laboratory Processing Instructions:BJH Chemistry will forward to the performing laboratory. Send immediately to St. Louis Children’s Hospital Laboratory. Wet ice is no longer required. Ordered specimen with label should be forwarded directly to SLCH Chemistry.