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Test Code LAB96 Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Total, Blood

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital - Chemistry

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation: None

Container/Tube  
Preferred: Mint green-top Lithium Heparin (MNTGRN LiHep) tube
Acceptable: Green samplette/microtainer, plain red-top tube, or Gold SST gel tube
Collection Volume: 1.0 mL (minimum 0.6 mL)

Submission Container/Tube: If specimen is coming from outside facility and collected in a microtainer or plain red-top tube aliquot processed sample into a plastic vial for transport (labeling with specimen type).
Special Instructions: Send to lab promptly

Sample Rejection

Hemolyzed specimens

Mislabeled or unlabeled specimens

Logistics

Test Availability: Monday-Sunday
Cut-off time: None; performed as received
Turnaround Time: Same day; 2 hours from receipt in performing lab

Reference Values

Reference Intervals:

< 30 days: 130-700 Units/L                    
30 days-5 years: 130-400 Units/L
5-12 years: 100-300 Units/L
≥ 12 years: 100-250 Units/L                                                                      

Critical Values: >2000 Units/L (applies to all ages)

Critical test results will be called back automatically initially and every 168 hours thereafter

Methodology

UV Assay

Limitations

  • In vary rare cases gammopathy, in particular IgM (Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia), may cause unreliable results.

For diagnostics purposes, the results should always be assessed in conjunction with the patient's medical history, clinical examination, and other findings.

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge specimen to separate. If specimen is collected in a microtainer or plain red-top tube aliquot sample into a Roche false bottom tube for testing (labeling with specimen type)
Processed Volume: 0.3 mL plasma/serum
Analyte Stability:

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)  Ambient 1 hour
Plasma/Serum (processed) Refrigerated (preferred)   4 days
  Ambient  2 days
  Frozen  6 weeks   

 

 

Test Classification and CPT Code

83615

LOINC

14804-9

Last Reviewed

06/2025