LDH (Lactic Dehydrogenase) Test in Kathmandu

About this test

Lactic dehydrogenase is an enzyme present in almost every cell in the body — heart, liver, kidney, muscle, brain, lungs, and especially red blood cells. Because it leaks out whenever cells are damaged or destroyed, a raised level in the blood is a sensitive but non-specific signal that tissue somewhere is breaking down. Doctors rarely order LDH on its own; instead it adds weight to a wider picture. It is a key marker in haemolytic anaemias, where red cells rupture and release their enzyme, and it is one of the most useful tools for monitoring lymphoma and certain leukaemias, where a rising value can reflect tumour bulk and treatment response. It also climbs in liver disease, after a heart attack, in muscle injury, in severe infections, and in conditions causing widespread tissue hypoxia. In Kathmandu it earns its place in the work-up of unexplained anaemia, in staging and follow-up of blood cancers at the city's oncology centres, and as one of several enzymes checked when fever, jaundice, or fatigue have no obvious cause. A markedly high LDH may also point towards megaloblastic anaemia from vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, which is common among long-standing vegetarian patients here. Because so many tissues contribute to the total figure, your physician interprets it alongside a complete blood count, peripheral smear, liver and kidney panels, and sometimes LDH isoenzyme fractionation to identify the source. A single mildly elevated reading is seldom alarming on its own; the trend over time and the company it keeps matter far more than one number.

Sample type

Blood (serum)

Preparation

No fasting required. Avoid strenuous exercise before the draw, and tell us if you take statins or have recently had an intramuscular injection, as both can nudge the result upward.

Turnaround time

Reports for LDH (Lactic Dehydrogenase) are typically ready within: Same Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other biochemistry tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside LDH (Lactic Dehydrogenase) or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.