Lactate measurements in scalp and cord arterial blood

Lactate has been measured to evaluate fetal metabolic acidosis for some decades. However, not until the past few years have reliable lactate meters become available for bedside obstetric practice. The new technology, which requires only 5 mul blood, has reduced the sampling failure rate of fetal scalp blood to almost nit. A growing body of evidence has also shown lactate to be good at predicting neonatal outcome. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 13:141-145. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.