Enzyme released when cells are damaged or turn over; a general marker of tissue stress across muscle, liver, red blood cells, and heart. Often tracked alongside CK and liver enzymes around hard training, hemolysis, or suspected muscle or liver injury.
LDH rises when cells break down or are damaged across multiple tissues—muscle, liver, heart, and red blood cells. It's a general marker of tissue stress and turnover, often ordered to screen for muscle injury, liver stress, hemolysis, or cardiac events, especially when paired with CK or liver enzymes.
When elevated: An elevated LDH can indicate tissue damage or disease in the heart (heart attack), liver (hepatitis), kidneys, muscles, or blood cells (hemolysis or certain cancers). It is a nonspecific marker, so high levels require additional testing to pinpoint the source of damage. When low: Low LDH is rarely clinically significant and does not typically indicate disease. It may occasionally be seen in certain nutritional deficiencies or with some medications, but low values are generally not a cause for concern.
Athletes use LDH to monitor recovery from intense training and identify excessive muscle breakdown or tissue damage that might impair performance or signal overtraining. It's particularly useful after very hard sessions, eccentric training, or altitude exposure, and helps distinguish muscle stress from other causes of fatigue or illness.
Turnaround Time
3 days (up to 7 days)
Order online
Choose your lab and check out. We send your lab requisition automatically — no doctor visit needed.
Get your sample collected
Visit a lab service center near you for a quick blood draw (or book at-home phlebotomy where available).
See your results
Your results land in your Insider portal, ready to review and act on — that easy.
Your price
$6.97$30
4.3× less than retail
Versus the typical direct-to-consumer retail price for this test (illustrative — consumer prices vary by provider and region).
$6.97
Enzyme released when cells are damaged or turn over; a general marker of tissue stress across muscle, liver, red blood cells, and heart. Often tracked alongside CK and liver enzymes around hard training, hemolysis, or suspected muscle or liver injury.
LDH rises when cells break down or are damaged across multiple tissues—muscle, liver, heart, and red blood cells. It's a general marker of tissue stress and turnover, often ordered to screen for muscle injury, liver stress, hemolysis, or cardiac events, especially when paired with CK or liver enzymes.
When elevated: An elevated LDH can indicate tissue damage or disease in the heart (heart attack), liver (hepatitis), kidneys, muscles, or blood cells (hemolysis or certain cancers). It is a nonspecific marker, so high levels require additional testing to pinpoint the source of damage.
The Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) test starts at $6.97 at Labcorp. No doctor's visit and no insurance needed; we do not bill insurance. Fitomics Insider members pay from $4.97.
Results for the Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) test are typically ready about 3 days after your draw, and up to 7 days for some samples. Your results land in your Insider portal.
No. When you order the Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) test from Fitomics Research Labs, a licensed physician in our 50-state network reviews and signs your requisition after checkout, and it lands in your portal and inbox. Then visit any Labcorp, Quest, or BioReference patient service center for your draw; results post to your Insider portal.
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