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Test Code ZLAC CSF Lactic Acid

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Cerebrospinal fluid

Preferred Specimen:CSF tube 

Other Acceptable specimens: Sterile Plastic Container, Sterile Clean Glass Container

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

3 hours

Refrigerated

 24 hours

Frozen

 2 months

Collection Instructions

  • Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 
  • No preservatives or additives.

 

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

  • Cerebrospinal fluid specimen obtained by clinical procedures.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid must be sent to Laboratory Service Center immediately for analysis
  • Transport refrigerated (2 - 8ºC).

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Cerebrospinal fluid specimen obtained by clinical procedures.
  • Aliquot specimen into transport tube and freeze.
  • Transportfrozen on ice to laboratory

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
  • Specimens that are collected with preservatives or additives.

Reference Values

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

CSF Lactic Acid

0 – 3 days old

All

1.1 – 6.7 mmol/L 

CSF Lactic Acid

3 – 11 days old

All

1.1 – 4.4 mmol/L 

CSF Lactic Acid

11 days – 17 years old

All

1.1 – 2.8 mmol/L 

CSF Lactic Acid

≥18 years old

All

1.1 – 2.4 mmol/L 

Critical Values

Not applicable 

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

STAT Turnaround Time: 1 hour 

Routine Turnaround Time: 4 hours

Testing Schedule:  24/7

Clinical Indications

Lactate levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are increased in bacterial meningitis. Increased CSF levels also occur in hypocapnia, hydrocephalus, brain abscesses, cerebral ischemia and any clinical condition associated with reduced oxygenation of the brain and/or increased intracranial pressure.

Test Components

Lactic acid, CSF 

CPT Codes

84157

LOINC Codes

TBD

Methodology

Colorimetric Assay (Roche Diagnostics)

Synonyms/Keyword Search

N/A

Additional Information

Not applicable

Last Review Date

4/10/2025

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL