The influence of blood sampling site on lactate concentration during submaximal exercise at 4 mmol.l-1 lactate level

This study examined lactate concentration during incremental and submaximal treadmill exercise at work rates corresponding to 4 mmol.l-1 lactate concentration, determined by fingertip (OBLA1) and venous blood (OBLA2). Initially, eight subjects performed a 4-min incremental exercise test until exhaustion. On two other occasions, seven of the subjects undertook submaximal exercise tests (30 min) at work rates corresponding to OBLA1 and OBLA2. Blood was simultaneously obtained from both sites at rest and at the end of each exercise stage during the incremental exercise, and at 5, 10, 20 and 30 min during the submaximal exercise and 5 min into recovery. Fingertip blood lactate concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than venous blood at rest, throughout the incremental exercise, consistently during exercise at OBLA1 and OBLA2, and into recovery. Data also revealed an exercise intensity-dependent lactate difference between the two sampling sites during both exercise protocols. Exercise at OBLA1 did not result in a progressive increase in lactate level nor exhaustion, and the lactate value at the end of 30 min corresponded to the predetermined value. However, exercise at OBLA2 resulted in a significantly higher (P < 0.05) lactate level than OBLA1, the lactate concentration at the end of 30 min was substantially higher than the predetermined value (P < 0.05) and exhaustion was evident. It is concluded that the lactate concentration value during incremental and submaximal exercise (at 4 mmol.l-1 OBLA) is dependent on the blood sampling site. This finding should be considered in studies concerned with the determination of OBLA.