Lab test · Cardiology
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
Cell & tissue damage marker
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 24 hours
- Home collection
What this test is for
Cell & tissue damage marker
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme found in almost every cell in the body, including red blood cells, liver, muscle, heart and lungs. When cells are damaged or broken down, LDH is released into the blood. A raised level shows that tissue damage is happening somewhere, but not where, so doctors use it together with other tests.
Why a doctor may order it
- To look for the breakdown of red blood cells (haemolysis) in some types of anaemia
- To help follow certain cancers, such as lymphoma, and their treatment
- As a general marker of tissue damage in liver, muscle, lung or heart conditions
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
This test needs no fasting or other special preparation. Avoid heavy exercise just before the test, as it can raise LDH from muscle. Take your usual medicines as normal unless your doctor gives other advice.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- The collector takes a small blood sample from a vein in your arm during the home visit, drawing it gently. Red cells that break in the tube can release LDH and give a falsely high reading, in which case a repeat sample may be needed.
- Report
- Within 24 hours of collection.
What the results can mean
Your report shows LDH next to the laboratory's range. A raised level can point to haemolysis, liver disease, muscle injury, lung or heart damage, some infections or some cancers, but it cannot say which. A falsely high result can also happen if red cells break in the sample. Your doctor will interpret LDH with your symptoms and other results, such as a blood count, reticulocyte count or liver tests.
What's included
One test: Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)A complete blood count looks at the three main types of cells in your blood: red blood cells, which carry oxygen; white blood cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which help blood to clot.
- Reticulocyte CountReticulocytes are young red blood cells that have just been released from the bone marrow, and they mature into full red cells within a day or two.
- Peripheral Blood Film (PBF)In a peripheral blood film, a drop of your blood is spread thinly on a glass slide, stained and examined under a microscope.
- Liver Function Test (LFT)A liver function test is a group of blood tests that show how well your liver is working and whether it is inflamed or damaged.
- Creatine Kinase (CK, CPK)Creatine kinase (CK), also called CPK, is an enzyme found mainly in skeletal muscles, with smaller amounts in the heart and brain.
- SGOT (Aspartate Aminotransferase, AST)SGOT, also called AST (aspartate aminotransferase), is an enzyme found mainly in the liver, but also in the heart, muscles and red blood cells.
Questions people ask
What does a high LDH mean?
It means cells somewhere in the body have been damaged. Because LDH is found in so many tissues, your doctor will use other tests and your symptoms to find the source.
Is LDH a cancer test?
No. LDH can be raised in some cancers and is used to follow them, but it is raised in many other conditions too, so it cannot diagnose cancer.
Why is LDH checked in anaemia?
When red blood cells break down faster than normal, they release LDH. A high LDH, together with other tests, can help show that anaemia is caused by red cell breakdown.
How much does a LDH test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳550, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the LDH test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the LDH report take?
The report is usually ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.