Lactic Acid, CSF
Test Summary
Lactic Acid levels in CSF normally parallel blood levels. Increased CSF Lactic Acid levels occur in trauma, seizure, brain abscess, Multiple Sclerosis, and bacterial meningitis.
Aliases
- N/A
Specimen Collection
Special Instructions
N/A
Preferred Specimen
1 mL CSF collected in a sterile, plastic, screw-cap container
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Instructions
If specimen is not clear or contains blood, centrifuge and separate supernatant fluid before freezing.
Patient Preparation
N/A
Storage
N/A
Transport Temperature
Frozen
Specimen Stability
- Room temperature: 3 hours
- Refrigerated: 24 hours
- Frozen: 90 days
Limitations
Note: The assay manufacturer, Roche, notes that N-acetylcysteine, when administered in high concentrations (such as for treatment of acetaminophen overdose), can interfere with their assay for lactate (lactic acid), leading to falsely low results.
Other Acceptable Specimens
N/A
Unacceptable Specimens
N/A
Order Code
LACSF
EPIC (Premier) Code
LAB630
Includes
N/A
CPT Code
- 83605
Billing Code
- 700000
CPT Statement
Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)
FDA Status
FDA Approved
Physician Attestation of Informed Consent
N/A
Testing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly VA, 20153
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly VA, 20153
Reference Range
See Laboratory Report
Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time
Sunday-Friday; Report available: 1 - 2 days
Specimen Collection
Special Instructions
N/A
Preferred Specimen
1 mL CSF collected in a sterile, plastic, screw-cap container
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Instructions
If specimen is not clear or contains blood, centrifuge and separate supernatant fluid before freezing.
Patient Preparation
N/A
Storage
N/A
Transport Temperature
Frozen
Specimen Stability
- Room temperature: 3 hours
- Refrigerated: 24 hours
- Frozen: 90 days
Limitations
Note: The assay manufacturer, Roche, notes that N-acetylcysteine, when administered in high concentrations (such as for treatment of acetaminophen overdose), can interfere with their assay for lactate (lactic acid), leading to falsely low results.
Other Acceptable Specimens
N/A
Unacceptable Specimens
N/A
Result Information
Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)
Testing Laboratory
N/A
Reference Range
See Laboratory Report
Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time
Sunday-Friday; Report available: 1 - 2 days