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Test Code FLDH Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Body Fluid

Additional Codes

Epic: LAB188

Specimen Required

Specimen Type: Body Fluid

Preferred Source: Synovial, Pleural, Ascites, Pericardial, Peritoneal, Amniotic

Collection Container/Type

Preferred: Green top tube (Lithium or Sodium heparin)

Acceptable: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Collection Instructions: 

  • Specimen source indicated on specimen is required.

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability

Room Temperature: Unacceptable

Refrigerated : 5 days

Frozen: Not defined

Clinical Significance

LD, an enzyme found in most major tissues, is released with cell damage caused by hypoxia, necrosis, or trauma. LD is elevated by a number pathologic conditions, most notably cardiac and hepatitis disease. Five electrophoretic isoenzymes are observed, with the relative ratios varying with the tissue source.

Reference Range

See laboratory report

Rejection Due To

Unlabeled, mislabeled, wrong tube type, QNS, wrong preservative, exceeds specimen stability requirements.

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Daily

Report Available

Same day

Method Name

Lactate to pyruvate (NADH)

Limitations

Do not use hemolyzed samples.  Red cells contain 150 times more LDH activity than serum.
Bilirubin has <2% effect at 60 mg/dl.   LDH values vary greatly with methodology.
Lipemia has < 10% interference at 2000 mg/dL triglycerides.
Specimens not centrifuged and/or exposed to heat will show falsely elevated LD results.