Int J Sports Med 2005; 26(8): 657-661
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830337
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Comparison of the Lactate Pro and Analox GM7 Blood Lactate Analysers

K. A. van Someren1 , G. Howatson1 , D. Nunan1 , R. Thatcher2 , R. Shave3
  • 1School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, U.K.
  • 2Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, U.K.
  • 3Department of Sport Sciences, Brunel University, Uxbridge, U.K.
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: August 8, 2004

Publication Date:
26 November 2004 (online)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was firstly, to determine the level of agreement between the Lactate Pro and Analox GM7 for the measurement of blood lactate, and secondly, to examine whether these analysers may be used interchangeably to identify lactate parameters routinely used in the physiological assessment of athletes. Twenty well-trained male cyclists performed an incremental cycle ergometry test; duplicate blood samples were taken simultaneously throughout the test for lactate determination using the two analysers. Power output and heart rate at LT, LT1, 2 mmol · L-1, and 4 mmol · L-1 were calculated from the lactate values obtained from the two analysers. There was a strong linear relationship between the two analysers (Lactate Pro = 1.4541 × Analox GM7 - 0.1287; R2 = 0.969, p < 0.001; SEE = 0.704) though the Lactate Pro overestimated blood lactate when compared to the Analox GM7; 95 % ratio limits of agreement (Lactate Pro/Analox GM7) were 1.40 ×/÷ 1.35. Differences were found between analysers for power output and heart rate at LT1 (p < 0.01), 2 mmol · L-1 (p < 0.001), and 4 mmol · L-1 (p < 0.001); no differences were found between analysers for power output or heart rate at LT. In conclusion, the average difference in blood lactate concentration measured by the Lactate Pro and the Analox GM7 was 40 %, with 95 % of measures differing by between 4 % and 89 %. This poor level of agreement and the significant differences between the two analysers in power output and heart rate associated with a number of lactate parameters indicate that these analysers should not be used interchangeably.

References

  • 1 American College of Sports Medicine . Policy statement regarding the use of human subjects and informed consent.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 vi
  • 2 Beaver W L, Wasserman K, Whipp B J. Improved detection of lactate threshold during exercise using a log-log transformation.  J Appl Physiol. 1985;  59 1936-1940
  • 3 Bentley D J, McNaughton L R, Thompson D, Vleck V E, Batterham A. Peak power output, the lactate threshold, and time trial performance in cyclists.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 2077-2081
  • 4 Bishop D, Jenkins D G, Mackinnon L T. The relationship between plasma lactate parameters, Wpeak, and 1 h cycling performance in women.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 1270-1275
  • 5 Bland J M, Altman D G. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement.  Lancet. 1986;  I 307-310
  • 6 Boulay M R, Simoneau J A, Lortie G, Bouchard C. Monitoring high-intensity endurance exercise with heart rate and thresholds.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;  29 125-132
  • 7 Cheng B, Kuipers H, Snyder A C, Keizer H A, Jeukendrup A, Hesselink M. A new approach for the determination of ventilatory and lactate thresholds.  Int J Sports Med. 1992;  13 518-522
  • 8 Coen B, Schwarz L, Urhausen A, Kindermann W. Control of training in middle- and long-distance running by means of the individual anaerobic threshold.  Int J Sports Med. 1991;  12 519-524
  • 9 Foxdal P, Sjodin A, Sjodin B, Ostman B. The validity and accuracy of blood lactate measurements for prediction of maximal endurance running capacity.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 89-95
  • 10 Gilman M B. The use of heart rate to monitor the intensity of endurance training.  Sports Med. 1996;  2 73-79
  • 11 Heck H, Mader A, Hess G, Mucke S, Muller R, Hollman W. Justification of the 4 mmol/l lactate threshold.  Int J Sports Med. 1985;  6 117-130
  • 12 Ingham S, Nevill A, Whyte G. Comparison of the Lactate Pro and Analox GM7 lactate analysers. Proceedings of the 6th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Cologne, 24 - 28 July. 2001: 1008
  • 13 Jacobs I. Blood lactate: Implications for training and sports performance.  Sports Med. 1986;  3 10-25
  • 14 Karvonen J, Vuorimaa T. Heart rate and exercise intensity during sports activities. Practical application.  Sports Med. 1988;  5 303-312
  • 15 Kindermann W, Simon G, Keul J. The significance of the aerobic-anaerobic transition for the determination of work load intensities during endurance training.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1979;  42 25-34
  • 16 McNaughton L R, Thompson D, Phillips G, Backx K, Crickmore L. A comparison of the Lactate Pro, Accusport, Analox GM7 and Kodak Ektachem lactate analysers in normal, hot and humid conditions.  Int J Sports Med. 2002;  23 130-135
  • 17 Medbø J I, Mamen O, Holt Olsen O, Evertsen F. Examination of four different instruments for measuring blood lactate concentration.  Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 2000;  60 367-380
  • 18 Nevill A M, Atkinson G. Assessing agreement between measurements recorded on a ratio scale in sports medicine and sports science.  Br J Sports Med. 1997;  31 314-318
  • 19 Nicholson R M, Sleivert G G. Indices of lactate threshold and their relationship with 10-km running velocity.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 339-342
  • 20 Pyne D B, Boston T, Martin D T, Logan A. Evaluation of the Lactate Pro blood lactate analyser.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  82 112-116
  • 21 Sjodin B, Jacobs I. Onset of blood lactate accumulation and marathon running performance.  Int J Sports Med. 1981;  2 23-26
  • 22 Thin A G, Hamzah Z, FitzGerald M X, McLoughlin P, Freaney R. Lactate determination in exercise testing using an electrochemical analyser: with or without blood lysis?.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1999;  79 155-159
  • 23 Thoden J. Testing aerobic power. MacDougall JD, Wenger HA, Green HJ Physiological Testing of the High Performance Athlete. 2nd ed. Champaign, IL; Human Kinetics 1991: 107-174
  • 24 Yoshida T, Chida M, Ichioka M, Suda Y. Blood lactate parameters related to aerobic capacity and endurance performance.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;  56 7-11

K. A. van Someren

School of Life Sciences, Kingston University

Penrhyn Road

Kingston upon Thames Surrey, KT1 2EE

United Kingdom

Phone: + 442085477482

Fax: + 44 20 85 47 75 62

Email: k.vansom@kingston.ac.uk

    >