Lactate Dehydrogenase
Private Lactate Dehydrogenase blood test in London for £88, measuring one LDH enzyme marker with results expected in around 1 business day.
Turnaround time
1 business day
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Lactate Dehydrogenase
The Lactate Dehydrogenase blood test measures LDH, an enzyme found throughout the body that can be released into the bloodstream when cells are damaged or broken down.
The test contains 1 biomarker: Lactate Dehydrogenase.
LDH is present in many tissues, including the liver, muscles, kidneys, lungs, heart and red blood cells.
Because it is so widely distributed, an elevated LDH result is not specific to one organ or one disease.
It can increase during haemolysis, liver disease, substantial muscle injury, tissue damage, severe infection and a range of other clinical conditions.
LDH is also used in selected haematology and oncology settings, where increased cellular turnover can affect concentrations.
Its lack of specificity means LDH is most useful when interpreted alongside other blood tests.
For example, raised LDH alongside reduced Haptoglobin and other evidence of red-cell destruction may support investigation of haemolysis.
Raised LDH alongside abnormal ALT, AST or other liver markers may require a different interpretation.
Recent strenuous exercise or significant muscle injury can also increase LDH.
An important pre-analytical issue is sample haemolysis. Because red blood cells contain substantial LDH, damage to cells during or after blood collection can produce an artificially high result.
This means an unexpectedly elevated LDH may occasionally need to be repeated if specimen haemolysis is suspected.
Low LDH concentrations are generally much less clinically significant than elevated values.
What Does the Lactate Dehydrogenase Test Check?
The test measures one widely distributed cellular enzyme that can provide evidence of increased tissue damage or cellular breakdown but does not determine the source by itself. This test measures 1 biomarker.
Lactate Dehydrogenase
Measures LDH released from cells and tissues, supporting investigation of tissue injury, haemolysis, increased cellular turnover and selected liver, muscle, haematological or systemic conditions.
Who May Benefit From the Lactate Dehydrogenase Test?
LDH testing is most useful when another symptom, laboratory result or medical condition provides context for interpreting a potentially non-specific elevation.
People undergoing investigation for haemolysis - LDH commonly rises when red blood cells are being destroyed.
People with unexplained anaemia - LDH can contribute to interpretation when haemolytic anaemia is one possibility.
People with abnormal liver results - LDH may provide additional information alongside more specific liver enzymes.
People with significant muscle injury - Cellular damage can increase LDH, although Creatine Kinase is generally more muscle-specific.
People with unexplained tissue damage or systemic illness - LDH can provide a broad marker of cellular injury.
People undergoing selected oncology monitoring - LDH may be used alongside disease-specific investigations in certain malignancies.
People with previous unexplained LDH elevation - Repeat testing can determine whether an abnormality persists.
People whose clinician has identified LDH as useful within a wider laboratory investigation - The marker is most informative when combined with more specific tests.
How to Prepare
Do not interpret a mildly raised LDH in isolation.
Where the laboratory reports sample haemolysis, repeat collection may be required before the result can be considered reliable.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Lactate Dehydrogenase Test
There are no symptoms specifically caused by an LDH elevation. Testing is usually prompted by symptoms or other findings suggesting an underlying condition that may cause increased cellular damage.
Persistent unexplained fatigue with anaemia findings - LDH can contribute to investigation when red-cell destruction is suspected.
Jaundice with suspected haemolysis - LDH may rise when red blood cells are being broken down.
Unexplained muscle pain or injury - Significant tissue damage can increase LDH.
Abnormal liver tests - LDH can provide supplementary information, although it is much less liver-specific than ALT or Gamma GT.
Severe infection or systemic illness - Extensive tissue stress can increase LDH.
A previous unexpectedly high LDH result - Repeat analysis may help establish whether the finding was persistent or related to sample haemolysis.
LDH is a non-specific marker and should not be used alone to diagnose cancer, liver disease, haemolysis or muscle injury.
Significant breathlessness, jaundice, severe weakness, chest pain or rapidly worsening illness requires clinical assessment rather than interpretation of an isolated LDH result.
How to Book Your Lactate Dehydrogenase Test
The Lactate Dehydrogenase test can be booked privately as an individual blood marker or alongside more targeted liver, muscle or haematological investigations.
Choose the Lactate Dehydrogenase
Select the individual LDH blood test online.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an in-clinic appointment or professional home or hotel phlebotomy depending on location and availability.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the required venous blood specimen.
Laboratory analysis
Your sample is analysed for Lactate Dehydrogenase activity.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised LDH result is delivered securely and can be interpreted alongside other relevant tests.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current expected turnaround for Lactate Dehydrogenase is approximately 1 business day after the sample reaches the laboratory.
LDH is a routinely available biochemical enzyme measurement and can usually be processed rapidly.
The laboratory completes analysis, quality-control procedures and result authorisation before release.
Turnaround begins from laboratory receipt rather than necessarily from the exact time of blood collection.
If the specimen is significantly haemolysed, the laboratory may be unable to provide a reliable result and a repeat blood sample can be required.
Understanding Your Results
A result within the laboratory reference interval means there is no significant LDH elevation in the submitted sample.
A raised result indicates increased enzyme release but does not identify which tissue is responsible.
Possible explanations include red-cell haemolysis, liver disease, skeletal-muscle injury, infection, inflammation, tissue damage and selected malignancies.
The degree of elevation and the results of other tests are therefore important.
An unexpectedly high LDH result with laboratory evidence of sample haemolysis can be artificial because damaged red blood cells release LDH into the specimen.
Low LDH concentrations are generally not considered clinically significant in routine practice.
The result is best interpreted with more specific markers such as Haptoglobin, Bilirubin, AST, ALT, Creatine Kinase and the Full Blood Count, depending on the reason for testing.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
LDH provides a useful supplementary marker when cellular injury or increased tissue turnover is being investigated.
Direct LDH measurement - Measures a widely distributed cellular enzyme.
Useful in haemolysis assessment - Can complement Haptoglobin, Bilirubin and blood-count findings.
Relevant to liver and muscle investigations - Provides supplementary information alongside more specific enzymes.
Useful for repeat monitoring - Persistent elevations can be compared over time.
Fast laboratory analysis - Results are expected in approximately 1 business day.
Professional phlebotomy - Careful blood collection helps reduce sample haemolysis.
Clear pricing - The Lactate Dehydrogenase test costs £88.
Private Lactate Dehydrogenase Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Lactate Dehydrogenase testing in London for people requiring assessment of LDH as part of a wider investigation.
The test costs £88 and measures 1 biomarker.
Results are expected approximately 1 business day after laboratory receipt.
Because LDH is non-specific, an abnormal result should usually be considered together with more targeted blood markers and the clinical reason for testing.