Lactate Threshold Test - Who can administer this test??

If you go to a doctor looking for a blood lactate test, (unless they're an endurace athlete) they won't know what context you are looking to be tested. And you'll probably get a blank stare.

Blood lactate tests are graded exercises tests where a blood sample is take at various stages of the test while you (in our case) are swimming, cycling, or running. The testing center where I had mine done in 2005 was charging $200 per test, so I purchased a portable lactate analyzer for my personal use for a little over $400. It's paid for itself a few times over.

If I were you I would look for some USAT coaches in your area and then ask them if there is any place locally to have it done. It's probably easier to find a coach than it is to find someone to do the test. But the coaches may be abe to help you find someone.

FWIW, I LIKE doing my own testing. I like to geek out on the analysis of the data... not just suffer through the test and get a spreadsheet via email.

Not saying that it isn't possible, but I haven't heard of a physician having the equipment.  You *might* be able to find a specialist in sports medicine where you could have it tested.  In Atlanta, we have 4-5 different to get tested that range from a gym to a local company that specializes in coaching. 

Your best bet is to ask around in the tri community.  Another possibilty is to contact a local college or university....their sports/physical therapy/physiology departments might have access. 

It's working out well.

One this I cannot attest to it's accuracy. In a drop of blood, my blood lactate level may be 3 mMol/liter,  4 mMol/liter for all I know and the machine may not get it spot on compared to a venous blood sample. HOWEVER, for the purposes of what you do in a graded exercise test, what matters if the precision of the device. Serial readings are in a pretty tight shot group until I get into the later stages of the test, and that's what you want when you are looking for the change you'd see when you reach your lactate threshold.

With regard the accuracy, it may be very accurate. I just have no may of knowing. I know the handheld blood glucose devices of comparble quality/price are accurate when compared to venous blood draws in the hospital lab. So I'm hoping they correlate about that well. But truly it would only be significant if I was comparing my LT to that of another athlete or some artbitrary standard, which doesn't really matter.

No real negatives. And of course the cost savings for me was huge. One run LT and one bike LT and it paid for itself.

Hope that answers your question. I'm glad I have it. I don't use it often enough, but this year I plan to test a lot more frequently.