Preferred test for diagnosing D-lactate acidosis, especially in patients with jejunoileal bypass and short-bowel syndrome
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) Stable Isotope Dilution Analysis
Urine
Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)
Container/Tube: Plastic urine tube
Specimen Volume: 0.50 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect a timed or random urine specimen.
2. No preservative.
3. Immediately freeze specimen.
0.15 mL
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Urine | Frozen (preferred) | 90 days | |
Ambient | 90 days | ||
Refrigerated | 90 days |
Preferred test for diagnosing D-lactate acidosis, especially in patients with jejunoileal bypass and short-bowel syndrome
D-lactate is produced by bacteria residing in the colon when carbohydrates are not completely absorbed in the small intestine. When large amounts of D-lactate are present, individuals can experience metabolic acidosis, altered mental status (from drowsiness to coma) and a variety of other neurologic symptoms, in particular dysarthria and ataxia. Although a temporal relationship has been described between elevations of plasma and urine D-lactate and the accompanying encephalopathy, the mechanism of neurologic manifestations has not been elucidated.
D-lactic acidosis is typically observed in patients with a malabsorptive disorder, such as short-bowel syndrome, or following jejunoileal bypass. In addition, healthy children presenting with gastroenteritis may also develop the clinical presentation of D-lactic acidosis.
Routine lactic acid determinations in blood will not reveal abnormalities because most lactic acid assays measure only L-lactate. Accordingly, D-lactate analysis must be specifically requested (eg, DLAC / D-Lactate, Plasma). However, as D-lactate is readily excreted in urine, this is the preferred specimen for D-lactate determinations.
0.0-0.25 mmol/L
Increased levels are diagnostic.
The test performed is for D-lactate. This is a product of bacterial overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract. It should not be confused with L-lactate, which accumulates in some metabolic acidosis.
1. Brandt RB, Siegel SA, Waters MG, Bloch MH. Spectrophotometric assay for D-(-)-lactate in plasma. Anal Biochem. 1980;102(1):39-46
2. Khrais A, Ali H, Choi S, Ahmed A, Ahlawat S. D-Lactic Acidosis in Short Bowel Syndrome. Cureus. 2022;14(5):e25471. doi:10.7759/cureus.25471
3. Bianchetti DGAM, Amelio GS, Lava SAG, et al. D-lactic acidosis in humans: systematic literature review. Pediatr Nephrol. 2018;33(4):673-681. doi:10.1007/s00467-017-3844-8
Urine is spiked with a mixture of internal standards and evaporated. The dry residue is derivatized with DATAN to form the diastereomeric molecules, then acidified and extracted with ethyl acetate. After evaporation, the dry residue is again derivatized to form trimethylsilyl (TMS) esters at the carboxylic acid moiety. Specimens are then analyzed by capillary gas chromatography mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring using positive chemical ionization with chromatographic separation of the L,L- and D,L-diastereoisomers of derivatized lactate, corresponding to L-Lactate and D-Lactate, respectively.(Ding X, Lin S, Weng H, Liang J. Separation and determination of the enantiomers of lactic acid and 2-hydroxyglutaric acid by chiral derivatization combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. J Sep Sci. 2018;41(12):2576-2584)
Monday, Thursday
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
83605
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
DLAU | D-Lactate, U | 14046-7 |
Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
---|---|---|
8873 | D-Lactate, U | 14046-7 |
Change Type | Effective Date |
---|---|
Test Changes - Method | 2023-10-23 |