Lactaatanalysers

Lactaatanalysers, also known as lactate analyzers, are devices that measure the concentration of lactate in biological samples, most commonly blood. They are used in clinical settings, critical care, and sports medicine to provide a quantitative readout of a patient’s or athlete’s metabolic status and to guide treatment or training decisions.

Most lactate analysers rely on enzymatic reactions that convert lactate to a detectable product. Lactate oxidase or lactate dehydrogenase catalyzes reactions that generate either hydrogen peroxide or NADH, with the resulting signal measured electrochemically or photometrically. This enables rapid, point-of-care or laboratory-based assessment of lactate levels.

Lactate analyzers come in benchtop and portable formats. Benchtop models are common in hospital laboratories for routine testing, while handheld or portable meters are used at the bedside, in ambulances, or during athletic testing. Samples typically include capillary or venous blood, though some systems accept plasma or serum.

Applications span clinical and athletic domains. In medicine, lactate monitoring aids assessment of sepsis, shock, liver or mitochondrial disorders, and helps gauge response to therapy. In sports science, lactate testing supports lactate threshold determination and training optimization, as well as recovery monitoring.

Performance and quality considerations include accuracy, repeatability, linear range, and calibration procedures. Point-of-care devices are often regulated under standards for POCT, with laboratories conforming to broader quality system standards. Regular calibration and quality control are essential to ensure reliable results.