Blood Lactate Testing
Blood lactate is a product of anaerobic glycolysis, and its measurement is used in physiological assessments of athletes.
- equipment required: small scalpels or lancets, ice and container for storage, alcohol swabs, blood analysis equipment. Also need sharps and contaminated items disposal unit.
- procedure: Small pinprick blood samples can be taken from any place, often it is from the finger tip or earlobe. The area must be cleaned first, using a dry tissue to remove sweat, then an alcohol swab. Once the area is dry, the lancet (often with a spring loaded apparatus) is used to pierce the skin. Hopefully there will be good blood flow from the wound, which is collected into capillary tubes or other devices, ready for analysis. If the blood does not flow freely, apply gentle pressure away from the site, or re-prick the site.
- analysis: the measurement of blood lactate is usually automated. Blood lactate levels indicate a combination of lactate production and release into the blood, and its removal from the blood. Blood lactate measurements are used to monitor changes in anaerobic power and responses to set workloads.
- comments: Lactate is a salt formed from lactic acid. Anaerobic exercise produces lactic acid, which quickly forms lactate in the muscles. Because of this, the terms "lactate" and "lactic acid" are often used interchangeably.