The useful question is not “How high can I push my lactate?” It is “How does my response change as the workload rises, and what does that mean for training?” Nova Lactate Plus can help answer that question when the measurements are collected as part of a consistent assessment.

Within a performance assessment, Lactate Plus readings are paired with workload, heart rate, and perceived effort to inform training intensity. Blood sampling and exercise testing should be supervised by someone competent in the procedure. This article explains the workflow; it does not replace the exact meter instructions, blood-handling training, or an individualized test protocol.

What the meter measures

Lactate Plus measures lactate concentration in a small capillary blood sample and reports it in mmol/L. Nova describes a 0.7-microliter sample and a result in about 13 seconds. That is the analysis time, not the duration of an assessment.

Lactate is produced and used throughout exercise. A rising concentration reflects the balance between its appearance and removal; it is not simply a measure of “bad waste” building up. The meter does not directly measure VO₂max, identify a threshold automatically, or diagnose a medical condition. Nova labels this system for sports training and conditioning.

Before the appointment

Agree on the sport, the question being tested, and the exercise protocol in advance. A cycling result should not automatically become a running zone prescription.

  • Follow the assessor’s preparation instructions and record recent training, meals, caffeine, illness, and medications that may affect the test. Do not stop prescribed medication to obtain a different result.
  • Arrive normally hydrated and avoid an unusual hard workout immediately beforehand. Keep preparation similar when retesting.
  • Discuss exercise symptoms, relevant health conditions, bleeding concerns, and consent before starting. Testing can be postponed or changed if it is unsuitable that day.

How a supervised assessment works

  1. Prepare the equipment and quality control. The operator checks the exact meter version, compatible strips, expiry dates, storage conditions, and control solution. No strip coding is required according to Nova, but that does not remove the need for quality-control checks specified in the instructions. Failed control checks mean athlete testing waits.
  2. Establish the exercise record. Set up the bike or treadmill, heart-rate recording, and a way to log workload, stage duration, perceived effort, and sample timing. The warm-up and stage progression should be chosen for the person and the purpose, not copied blindly from another athlete.
  3. Collect readings at defined points. After preparing a clean, dry sampling site according to the instructions, the operator uses a new single-use safety lancet and compatible strip. Nova’s basic meter sequence is to insert the strip, apply the sample to its sampling area as instructed, and wait for the displayed result. Sweat contamination, inadequate samples, and inconsistent timing can distort the curve.
  4. Record context, not just the number. Each result belongs with its workload, heart rate, effort rating, and timing. An error message or suspicious reading is investigated and documented rather than treated as a valid point. Sampling must not be attempted while the athlete is moving unsafely.
  5. Finish safely and review the whole series. Follow the agreed stopping criteria and recovery procedure. Sharps go directly into an appropriate sharps container; gloves, blood-contaminated materials, and meter cleaning/disinfection follow the applicable procedures and manufacturer instructions. Never reuse lancets or share a personal lancing device between people.

Stop exercise for chest pain, faintness, unusual breathlessness, or other concerning symptoms; seek appropriate medical help rather than using another lactate reading to decide whether continuing is safe.

Turning the curve into training guidance

Plot lactate against power or speed and consider the shape alongside heart rate and perceived effort. A single reading does not establish a threshold. Neither 2 nor 4 mmol/L is a universal personal threshold, and different threshold methods can produce different answers.

A useful report names the protocol and interpretation method, shows the underlying readings, and explains the uncertainty. It should translate the findings into practical intensity ranges, then check whether those ranges make sense during ordinary training. One staged test should not be presented as proof of a precisely measured maximal lactate steady state.

For a retest, use the same sport, equipment, preparation, stage structure, and interpretation method as far as possible. Lower lactate at the same workload can be informative, but fatigue, fueling, or sampling differences can also change a result. Improvement is a pattern, not one isolated number.

How this fits coaching

Lactate testing is an optional addition within Performance Assessment, not a prerequisite for starting a training plan. Suitability, protocol, and testing arrangements are agreed before booking.

The service brings the staged readings together in one report, explains the method used to interpret the curve, and translates the findings into practical power, pace, or heart-rate guidance where supported. The results discussion also covers how those ranges feel in training and what to keep consistent for a useful retest. The meter supplies the measurements; the coaching value comes from interpreting them in the context of your goals and training.

Manufacturer references

Manufacturer web information reviewed October 26, 2026. Product details and instructions can change.