Newcastle Laboratories

Lactate/pyruvate ratio, blood or CSF

Clinical Background:

Measurement of lactate and pyruvate is used in the investigation of lactic acidosis and can help with the diagnosis of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency.

PDH deficiency is suspected when lact...

Measurement of lactate and pyruvate is used in the investigation of lactic acidosis and can help with the diagnosis of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency.

PDH deficiency is suspected when lactate in blood or plasma > 5.0 mmol/L with lactate/pyruvate ratio < 25.

Pyruvate is very unstable in blood or CSF so samples must be taken into a tube containing perchloric acid (PCA) according to the protocol below.

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Test Details

  • Discipline:

    Biochemistry

    Biochemistry

  • Specimen Container Adult:

    Samples must be taken in a tube containing perchloric acid (PCA).

    NuTH requests: contact the metabolic lab (or specimen reception out-of-hours) for a tube.  Tubes are available on some GNCH wards. ...

    Samples must be taken in a tube containing perchloric acid (PCA).

    NuTH requests: contact the metabolic lab (or specimen reception out-of-hours) for a tube.  Tubes are available on some GNCH wards.  They must be stored upright at 4oC.

    Ensure patient details are hand-written on the tube.  Do not attach a label to the tube.

    External laboratories: contact the metabolic laboratory for a sample collection protocol.

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  • Specimen Container Paediatric:

    Samples must be taken in a tube containing perchloric acid (PCA).

    NuTH requests: contact the metabolic lab (or specimen reception out-of-hours) for a tube.  Tubes are available on some GNCH wards. ...

    Samples must be taken in a tube containing perchloric acid (PCA).

    NuTH requests: contact the metabolic lab (or specimen reception out-of-hours) for a tube.  Tubes are available on some GNCH wards.  They must be stored upright at 4oC.

    Ensure patient details are hand-written on the tube.  Do not attach a label to the tube.

    External laboratories: contact the metabolic laboratory for a sample collection protocol.

    Read More
  • Minimum Volume Adult:

    0.5 – 1.0 mL

    0.5 – 1.0 mL

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    0.5 – 1.0 mL

    0.5 – 1.0 mL

  • Transport Requirements:

    NuTH requests: put the tube in a plastic bag to keep it dry, place on ice and transport to the Blood Sciences laboratory immediately.

    External laboratories: freeze sample on receipt in the laborato...

    NuTH requests: put the tube in a plastic bag to keep it dry, place on ice and transport to the Blood Sciences laboratory immediately.

    External laboratories: freeze sample on receipt in the laboratory and send frozen to the metabolic laboratory at the RVI.

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  • Reference Ranges:

    CSF lactate                                          0 - 1.8 mmol/L

    CSF pyruvate                                      0.04 – 0.15 mmol/L

    CSF lactate/pyruvate ratio            0 – 18

    Blood lactate  ...

    CSF lactate                                          0 - 1.8 mmol/L

    CSF pyruvate                                      0.04 – 0.15 mmol/L

    CSF lactate/pyruvate ratio            0 – 18

    Blood lactate                                      0 – 1.8 mmol/L

    Blood pyruvate                                 0.035 – 0.150 mmol/L

    Blood lactate/pyruvate ratio        0 – 18

    Results are reported with interpretative comment.

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  • Routine Contact Name:

    Duty Biochemist

  • Routine Telephone:

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889

    RVI: 0191 282 9719

    Freeman: 0191 244 8889

    RVI: 0191 282 9719

  • Routine Email:

  • Specialist Test:

    Yes

    Yes

  • Specialist Contact Name:

    Metabolic Clinical Scientist

    Metabolic Clinical Scientist

  • Specialist Telephone:

    0191 282 9685 (Consultant Clinical Scientist)

    0191 282 0334 (Metabolic Laboratory)

    0191 282 9685 (Consultant Clinical Scientist)

    0191 282 0334 (Metabolic Laboratory)

  • Specialist Email:

Send To:

Department of Blood Sciences

Level 3
Leazes Wing
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP

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