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Test ID: LD Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Serum

Reporting Name

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD), S

Useful For

Investigation of a variety of diseases involving the heart, liver, muscle, kidney, lung, and blood

 

Monitoring changes in tumor burden after chemotherapy; lactate dehydrogenase elevations in patients with cancer are too erratic to be of use in the diagnosis of cancer

Clinical Information

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity is present in all cells of the body with highest concentrations in heart, liver, muscle, kidney, lung, and erythrocytes. Serum LDH is elevated in a number of clinical conditions.

Interpretation

Marked elevations in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity can be observed in megaloblastic anemia, untreated pernicious anemia, Hodgkin disease, abdominal and lung cancers, severe shock, and hypoxia.

 

Moderate to slight increases in LDH levels are seen in myocardial infarction, pulmonary infarction, pulmonary embolism, leukemia, hemolytic anemia, infectious mononucleosis, progressive muscular dystrophy (especially in the early and middle stages of the disease), liver disease, and kidney disease.

 

In liver disease, elevations of LDH are not as great as the increases in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

 

Increased levels of the enzyme are found in about one-third of patients with kidney disease, especially those with tubular necrosis or pyelonephritis. However, these elevations do not correlate well with proteinuria or other parameters of kidney disease.

 

On occasion a raised LDH level may be the only evidence to suggest the presence of a hidden pulmonary embolus.

Testing Algorithm

For more information see Multiple Myeloma: Laboratory Screening

Report Available

Same day/1 to 3 days

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Clinical Reference

Panteghini M, Bais R: Serum enzymes. In: Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2018:407-431

Method Name

Photometric Rate Reaction

Specimen Type

Serum


Necessary Information


Patient's age is required.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged, and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.25 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Ambient (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  30 days
  Refrigerated  48 hours

Reference Values

1-30 days: 135-750 U/L

31 days-11 months: 180-435 U/L

1-3 years: 160-370 U/L

4-6 years: 145-345 U/L

7-9 years: 143-290 U/L

10-12 years: 120-293 U/L

13-15 years: 110-283 U/L

16-17 years: 105-233 U/L

≥18 years: 122-222 U/L

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

83615

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
LD Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD), S 14804-9

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
LD Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD), S 14804-9
Mayo Clinic Laboratories | Neurology Catalog Additional Information:

mml-Demyelinating-Diseases, mml-Neuroimmunology, mml-Neuro-oncology