Blood Lactate Testing Description and Preparation

The blood lactate test is an extremely accurate assessment of your LT as well as your body’s ability to bufferlactic acid, and of your overall ability to work anaerobically. The test is strenuous and even uncomfortable for some. We recommend it only for elite athletes or those who find conventionally measured LT heart rates erroneous or inconsistent with training experience.

When you get tested you’ll be on your bicycle and our Computrainer, or an ATS CycleOps stationary (spin) bicycle, or the treadmill in our studio. The actual testing can take 60- 90 minutes, so plan to spend at least 3 hours at the training center in order to get setup, and then to discuss results.

To prepare for the test:

• Get plenty of rest the night before and NO workout the day of the test

• No high volume anaerobic work the day before the test (based on what you believe your LT to be)

• No OTC medications test day, specifically decongestants or anti-histamines

• Eat normally with your last meal no sooner than 3 hours prior and come well hydrated

What to bring:

• Cycling or running apparel (depending on your test platform)

• If you are cycling, bring shoes (Look, SPD or Keo pedals are available on our stationary bikes)

• Water bottle(s) and food

• Change of clothes if you wish to shower and dress afterward

What to expect:

• You will need to sign an “Informed Consent Form”

• You will need to complete a brief medical history form

• You should expect a very strenuous workout; this should probably will be your workout for the day

• Your fingers (middle three) will be pricked for a blood sample with a sterile device which will get a new sterile lancete for each sample. A drop of blood will be collected on a test strip which gives us a direct reading of the lactate present in your blood at the moment the sample is taken.

• The number of samples varies depending on your body’s response. An average number is 18.

• Cost of the test is $200 – cash, check, VISA or MasterCard.

• You’ll be wearing our heart rate monitor for this test, but no breathing apparatus is used. You will work under progressively increasing loads with samples taken periodically until you reach high concentrations of blood lactate (>10mM), then your effort will be decreased to achieve a 20% drop in heart rate. You will continue to work, again under progressively increasing loads (samples still being taken) until we reach a specific change in the sample readings.