Lactate Dehydrogenase Test

'Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme required during the process of turning sugar into energy for your cells. LDH is present in many kinds of organs and tissues throughout the body, including the liver, heart, pancreas, kidneys, skeletal muscles, lymph tissue, and blood cells.
When illness or injury damages your cells, LDH may be released into the bloodstream, causing the level of LDH in your blood to rise. High levels of LDH in the blood point to acute or chronic cell damage, but additional tests are necessary to discover its cause. Abnormally low LDH levels only rarely occur and usually aren’t considered harmful.'

'No special preparation is needed.
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications or have any underlying medical conditions or allergies before starting the procedure.
It’s a simple blood test so, it’s better not to eat past hour to get best results.
Your doctor depending on your condition will give specific instructions.'

Measuring LDH can be a useful tool for doctors when evaluating and treating certain medical conditions. Normal ranges vary with age. As scientists continue to learn more about the role of LDH in the body, the usefulness of monitoring LDH levels in certain diseases and conditions will likely increase.

Process of obtaining blood sample in adults:
A band is wrapped around the arm, 3-4 inches above the collection site (superficial vein that lies within the elbow pit)
The needle cap is removed and is held in line with the vein, pulling the skin tight
The required amount of blood sample is collected by pulling the plunger of the syringe out slowly
The wrap band is removed, gauze is placed on the collection site, and the needle is removed
The blood is immediately transferred into the blood container, which has the appropriate preservative/clot activator/anti-coagulant
The syringe and the needle are disposed into the appropriate “sharp container” for safe and hygienic disposal