Useful For

Diagnosing and monitoring patients with lactic acidosis.

Elevated levels of lactate are mainly found in conditions of
hypoxia such as shock, hypovolemia, and left ventricular failure;
in conditions associated with diseases such as diabetes mellitus,
neoplasia, and liver disease; and in conditions associated with
drugs or toxins such as ethanol, methanol, or salicylate. Lactic
acid measurements are being used as a screening tool in evaluating
for severe sepsis. In severe sepsis circulatory abnormalities
(intravascular volume depletion, peripheral vasodilatation,
myocardial depression and increased metabolism) lead to an
imbalance between systemic oxygen delivery and oxygen demand,
resulting in global tissue hypoxia or shock.