Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase Test (LDH)

LDH Test measures the Level of Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood.

The LDH test helps screen for muscle damage, certain inflammatory conditions and other tissue damage. When cells are damaged, LDH is released into the blood causing levels to rise.

High LDH levels could be caused by anemia, meningitis, mononucleosis, HIV, liver or kidney disease, some types of cancer, etc.

An LDH test is typically ordered along with a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) and since LDH test cannot identify where in the body the damage is, follow up testing is usually recommended.

Preparation: No fasting or special preparation for this test is needed.