Lactate is a metabolite that can safely and easily can be determined in fetal scalp blood using new microvolume (5-20 microliters) lactate meters. However, new lactate analysing methods need their own reference values. There are factors other than hypoxia that might increase fetal lactate levels, although this does not disqualify this parameter for intrapartum surveillance. Available data on fetal lactate determination give support that it can simplify FBS in labour and is likely to predict fetal tissue hypoxia at least as well as is pH determination. Prospective randomized studies are needed before the method can be introduced into clinical practice. As a predictor of neonatal outcome, lactate can substitute pH in routine assessment of cord artery blood at delivery.