The effect of sampling time on blood lactate concentration ([Bla]) in trained rowers.
OBJECTIVE
To compare blood lactate concentration ([Bla]) at 15 s and 45 s during the 1-min rest period between each stage of an incremental test in rowers and to establish the validity of using interchangeable sampling times.


METHODS
Seventeen male club rowers (mean+/-SD, age 28.8+/-5.7 years, height 186.9+/-5.1 cm, body mass 85.4+/-6.6 kg) performed an incremental rowing ergometer test, consisting of five stages of 4 min corresponding to approximately 80% HRmax. A 10-microL earlobe blood sample was collected from each subject at 15 s and again at 45 s in the final minute of each test stage and analyzed in duplicate. A maximum of 10 s was allowed for blood collection.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis using limits of agreement and correlation indicated a high level of agreement between the two [Bla] samples for all five test stages (agreement>95%, confidence intervals [CI]=-0.5 to 1.5, r=.97, P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that a sampling time between 15 s and 45 s may be recommended for the valid assessment of the [Bla] threshold in rowing performance monitoring. This extends the current sampling time of 30 s used by physiologists and coaches for National and club-level Rowers.
Kass
Lindsy
L
Division of Sport, Health, and Exercise, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
Carpenter
Roger
R
D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013177:Sports; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D019344:Lactic Acid