What do the results mean?A high lactic acid level means you likely have lactic acidosis. There are two types of lactic acidosis: type A and type B. The cause of your lactic acidosis depends on which type you have.Type A is the most common form of the disorder. Conditions that cause type A lactic acidosis include:SepsisShockHeart failureLung diseaseAnemiaType B lactic acidosis may be caused by one of the following conditions:Liver diseaseLeukemiaKidney diseaseStrenuous exerciseIf you had a spinal tap to check for a meningitis infection, your results may show:High levels of lactic acid. This probably means you have bacterial meningitis.Normal or slightly high levels of lactic acid. This probably means you have a viral form of the infection.If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
