Lactic Acid
A direct readout of lactate buildup, the metabolic signal that rises when tissues run short on oxygen.
Consider this test if:
- Evaluating an unexplained metabolic acidosis or anion gap without ketones or azotemia
- Monitoring tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery in serious infection, sepsis, or shock
- Investigating suspected mitochondrial, enzyme, or inborn metabolic disorders
- Tracking severity and recovery in a critically ill or post-operative setting
- Working up suspected toxin exposure, such as ethanol, methanol, salicylate, or ethylene glycol
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in 1-3 days · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Be in a fasting, resting state and avoid exercise beforehand, since muscle activity raises lactate quickly. Collection technique matters: a tourniquet plus hand-clenching drives up lactate from forearm muscles, so the draw should avoid or quickly release the tourniquet. The sample must be drawn into a gray-top tube, kept on ice, and separated from cells within 15 minutes, so this is a lab-collected test. Avoid intravenous infusions that affect acid-base balance before the draw.
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What this test is for
Lactate (lactic acid) is produced when cells generate energy without enough oxygen, so the blood level rises whenever tissue perfusion or oxygen delivery falls short of demand. Elevated lactate is a marker of conditions like shock, severe infection, congestive heart failure, dehydration, hypoxia, and certain metabolic and enzyme disorders, and it often climbs before blood pressure or urine output change. It is also one of the main reasons to look for lactic acidosis when an unexplained anion-gap metabolic acidosis turns up without ketones or kidney failure to explain it. Transient rises follow exercise, alcohol, and carbohydrate infusions, so the result is read against clinical context and timing. In critically ill patients, the level and how it trends carry prognostic weight, which is why it is tracked rather than measured just once.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
What you'll learn
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Insights that connect the dots. A clinician reads your whole picture, not one result in isolation, connecting family history, past results, and lifestyle into clear next steps.
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Your personalized action plan. Nutrition, supplements, and training in one clinician-reviewed protocol, updated as your results change.
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Track your trends. Upload results from any lab and see each biomarker trend over time, so you know what is working.
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Never miss a recheck. Mito tells you what is worth retesting and when, then reminds you so nothing slips.
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Typical results in 1-3 days
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
Everything your health needs,
in one membership
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Every test at our cost
Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
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Continuous tracking, all in one place
Upload past labs and watch your trends over time. Every marker and visit lives in one longitudinal record, so all your care stays together.
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Year-round clinician support
Text anytime and get clinician-reviewed answers. When you want to go deeper, 1:1 consultations are available at affordable rates.
All for $9/month
Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost, covering the lab and what it takes to run the service. It is never a profit on the test itself. Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9 per month, and any applicable lab order or draw fee is itemized before you pay.
Where do I get tested?
Choose an available partner lab at checkout. If your cart contains multiple blood tests, Mito helps consolidate the eligible tests at one lab when possible. At-home kits and scans follow the collection or appointment process shown on their product page.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. Eligible tests can be paid for with an HSA or FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results appear in your Mito dashboard after the laboratory completes processing. A clinician then reviews them before your analysis and personalized action plan are finalized. Timing varies by test, and specialty assays and at-home kits may take longer.
Do I need a physician's order?
No. Mito provides the laboratory order when one is required, so you do not need to arrange a separate physician visit before purchasing.
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