Lactate determination with the lactate analyser LA 640: a critical study

Using the new method of sample preparation developed by the manufacturer in 1979, the lactate analyser LA 640 now provides reliable measurements of blood lactic acid from blood micro-samples of 20 microliters within 2 min. Reproducibility is comparable to that obtained by spectrophotometric assay with +/- 0.2 mmol . l-1 for 95% confidence limits. High accuracy was also obtained with 95% linked confidence limits within +/- 0.19 mmol . l-1 and +/- 0.46 mmol . l-1 for blood lactate concentrations of from 2-4 and 7-9 mmol . l-1 respectively. Due to a lactate concentration increase of 0.5 mmol . l-1 . h-1 in whole blood kept at 20 degrees C, the blood must be immediately diluted in the buffer haemolysing solution after withdrawal. This diluted sample can then be stored at room temperature without alteration, provided the concentration in the dilution is lower than 0.8 mmol . l-1. For serial successive measurements, a new sample can be tested before the electrode current reaches its background value.