What effect does hemolysis have on LD levels?

Hemolysis has a notable effect on lactate dehydrogenase (LD or LDH) levels in blood samples. When hemolysis occurs, red blood cells break down and release cellular contents, including LD, into the serum. This process results in an artificially elevated concentration of LD in laboratory measurements. Therefore, the presence of hemolysis can lead to inaccurate or misleading test results, indicating higher levels of LD than are truly present in the patient's serum.

Understanding the implications of hemolysis is crucial for laboratory accuracy. Elevated LD levels due to hemolysis can interfere with clinical interpretations, leading healthcare providers to potentially misdiagnose conditions or improperly evaluate a patient's health status. It exemplifies the importance of pre-analytical factors in laboratory testing, where sample integrity is vital for obtaining reliable results.