The diagnostic accuracy of an initial point-of-care lactate at the emergency department as a predictor of in-hospital mortality among adult patients with sepsis and septic shock.

An initial POC lactate of ≥ 3.5 mmol/L best predicted in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with suspected sepsis and septic shock to the emergency department. A review of the sepsis and septic shock protocols will help in the early identification and management of these patients to reduce their in-hospital mortality.