Objective: Recurrent lactate and blood gas analysis are frequently assessed in intensive care units of anesthesiology to evaluate the metabolism. Two separate blood samples, a sample with heparin as an anticoagulant for one for blood gas analysis and the second sample with sodium fluoride for lactate analysis, are obtained. We believe it is important to assess both parameters from a single blood sample especially in metabolically ill patients to obtain less blood sample. The aim of this study is to evaluate the plasma lactate levels in two different samples obtained with two different anticoagulants, heparine and sodium fluoride, from the same patients.

Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients who were under treatment in intensive care unit were taken into the study. In heparinised sample that was obtained to assess blood gas analysis, first the gas analysis were performed and the plasma was separated later. Lactate assessments were assayed by colorimetric method.

Results: Lactate levels in heparinised plasma was (2.28±1.89 mmol/L, min-max: 0.7-9.8) where as lactate levels in sodium fluroide plasma was (mean: 2.21±1.84 mmol/L, min-max: 0.5-9.3). We found a significant correlation (r=0.975, p<0.001) between both plasma lactate levels.

Conclusion: In the present study, we found significant correlation between heparinised samples obtained for blood gas analysis and samples with sodium fluoride that was taken separately for lactate assessments. Thus, we believe that heparinised samples; may be preferred especially in intensive care units, with the advantages of assessment of blood gas analysis and lactate assays on a single sample, costeffectiveness, and requirement of less sample volume.