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Welcome
Lab-specific Performance Testing that comes to you
Find your specific zones, and train with purpose
About VITA Performance Testing
Most training zones come from an age-based formula that has nothing to do with your actual physiology.
A lactate threshold test measures how your body responds during an incremental test.
The same method performance labs use Without the cost.
The Science...
The main goal of this test is essentially to Identify your Aerobic Threshold and diagnose Aerobic Deficiency and therefore allow you to know exactly what needs training.
As exercise intensity increases in stages, a blood sample and heart rate reading are taken at each step. Plotting lactate against heart rate produces a lactate curve. Because lactate is produced by glycolysis, and glycolysis increases with intensity, blood lactate concentration reflects how much of your energy is coming from anaerobic versus aerobic metabolism at that point.
Knowing where your Aerobic Threshold sits is fundamental to structuring endurance training properly. Without it, intensity zones are a guess, and most athletes guess wrong; training too hard on easy days and not hard enough on the days meant to be harder.
Lactate becomes a problem once you go beyond your aerobic capacity. Above Aerobic Threshold, lactate production starts to outpace clearance. Lactate and hydrogen ions accumulate in the blood, and eventually the body forces a reduction in pace. This is what makes the Aerobic Threshold significant: it marks the highest intensity at which production and clearance remain in balance. Below it, effort can be sustained for a long time. Above it, sustainability is limited.
Training changes this balance point. Unlike some physiological markers, which are largely fixed, the Aerobic Threshold responds well to training. High-volume, low-intensity work builds capillary density, mitochondrial mass, and enzymatic capacity in slow-twitch fibres, improving their ability to clear lactate. As a result, Aerobic Threshold shifts to a higher heart rate and pace - and other markers, including the Anaerobic Threshold, tend to improve alongside it.
Learn More
Book your lactate threshold test online and take the first step towards smarter training. Our expert team is here to support your athletic journey.
The methodology
First 10-15 minutes: Introduction, run through of test and discussion of your goals and any injuries.
Equipment Set up: You will be issued with a heart rate monitor strap to wear throughout the test.
10-15 minutes warm up and baseline measurements including Heart Rate and Finger Prick testing.
Test Start - Test typically lasts up to 7-8 stages (roughly 45-60min).
End of test: Cool down. Debrief and discussion of next steps.